The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, a key Hamas military commander and planner of the October 7 attacks, following a July 13 airstrike in Khan Yunis. This marks a significant milestone for Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas, as Deif was one of the most wanted figures, eluding capture for decades. Israeli officials hailed the operation as a critical achievement in dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasizing the need to pursue all Hamas terrorists. The announcement came alongside the reported deaths of other high-ranking militants, including Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Fuad Shukr from Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns of escalating tensions in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for urgent measures to deescalate the situation. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that these actions were part of a broader strategy to counter threats from Iran and its proxies in the Middle East.