VFI News Yahya Sinwar Has Been Eliminated

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The IDF and Shin Bet announced that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed on Wednesday, October 16. In a joint statement, they said that recent IDF and Shin Bet activities reduced Sinwar’s area of operations, ultimately leading to his death. 

The statement explained that over the past few weeks, the 162nd Division and Gaza Division had been operating in Gaza in areas where intelligence indicated senior Hamas officials were hiding. 

A force from the 828th Bislamach Brigade killed three terrorists, and one of them was identified as Sinwar. Graphic photos have circulated, showing Sinwar lying lifeless in a pile of rubble after he was killed in the routine raid that surprised soldiers. 

The slain terrorist can be seen in the photos “wearing a vest carrying grenades,” as well as a wristwatch that is commonly used by Hamas fighters, according to Israeli media. 

The Hamas leader was eliminated after a tank fired at a building in Rafah which was thought to contain terrorists. After that, infantry from the 450th Battalion raided and searched the building. During the searches, the forces found Sinwar’s body.

In the building where he was eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. (TOI / VFI News)

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” - Psalm 34:19

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

Large amounts of cash, a UNRWA ID card, and various weapons were discovered alongside the bodies of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and senior terrorists killed with him in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood, the IDF confirmed Thursday, October 17. Mentos candies were also found at the scene. 

Meanwhile, drone footage from the operation that killed Sinwar appears to show the terror chief’s final moments as he sat injured on the ground following a preliminary strike on the buildings, according to Israeli media. 

The man believed to be Sinwar, who had his face covered, hurled an object at the drone spying on him in a last-ditch effort to hide his whereabouts. At that point, the IDF troops fired a second round at the building, killing the terrorist.

As first reported by Israeli media, Sinwar’s identity was confirmed through dental records, with fingerprint analysis later corroborating the identification. Another key indicator of Sinwar’s presence was the identity of one of the terrorists killed alongside him, who was known to be close to the Hamas leader. 

According to reports from Gaza, the two other terrorists killed were Sinwar’s bodyguards, one of whom was also a teacher for UNRWA, while the other was a senior official in Hamas’ National Security Office. (YNet /VFI News) 

“The Lord said to me, ‘Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land.’” - Deuteronomy 3:2

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Thursday, October 17, following the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. “One year ago, Yahya Sinwar, the terrorist chief of Hamas, launched the October 7th massacre against Israel … Today, the mastermind of this day of sheer evil is no more.”

“To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message: This war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages. Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza, who are citizens of 23 countries.”  

US President Joe Biden also welcomed Sinwar’s elimination on Thursday: “Early this morning, Israeli authorities informed my national security team that a mission they conducted in Gaza likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead. This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.” 

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on Hamas fighters to release the hostages and addressed the residents of Gaza. “Sinwar died while… on the run. He didn’t die as a commander, but as someone who only cared for himself.” 

“The man who brought disaster and death to the Gaza Strip, the man who made you suffer as a result of his murderous actions – the end of this man has come. It is time to go out, release the hostages, [to those involved in fighting] raise your hands, surrender. Go out with the hostages, free them, and surrender.” (INN/ VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for the elimination of Sinwar and that he won’t be able to hurt our people any longer. We pray that peace will be on the horizon and that You will bring the release of all remaining hostages. We ask that after more than a year of war, the atrocities will end and that all the residents will be able to rebuild their lives and prosper.”

The Pentagon has confirmed that the American THAAD missile defense system has arrived in Israel. 

“Yesterday, October 14, an advance team of US military personnel and initial components necessary to operate the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery arrived in Israel,” a statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder read. 

“Over the coming days, additional US military personnel and THAAD battery components will continue to arrive in Israel. The battery will be fully operational capable in the near future, but for operations security reasons we will not discuss timelines.” 

The statement stressed, “The deployment of the THAAD battery to Israel underscores the United States’ commitment to the defense of Israel and to defend Americans in Israel from any ballistic missile attacks by Iran.” 

An earlier Pentagon statement explained that “this is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery to the region. The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the October 7th attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region.”  (INN / VFI News) 

“Dear Lord, we thank You for gifting us invaluable allies in the war against our enemies. We pray that we will not need to use the weapons they send us, but we are grateful for the ability to defend ourselves and for our American friends who are committed to ensuring the safety of our people. May You keep protecting us from our enemies and cause them to seek You and sorrowfully repent for their horrific crimes.”

Join us on a captivating journey as we delve into the rich history and spiritual depth of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Explore the customs, traditions, and the enduring message behind this ancient Jewish holiday. Uncover the meaning of the Sukkah, the festive decorations, and the prophetic significance of Sukkot in the modern world. Dive into this engaging exploration of faith and tradition as we celebrate the season of Sukkot together.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Monday evening, October 14, that the soldiers of the 8th Brigade combat team, under the command of the 91st Division, continue to conduct limited, localized, targeted raids based on precise intelligence in southern Lebanon. 

Together with the Yahalom Unit, the soldiers located an underground compound stretching across 800 meters that served as a command center for Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces. 

Inside the underground compound, the IDF found helicopter-fired missiles, mortar shells, motorcycles, living quarters, and means for long-term stays, including a kitchen stocked with food and supplies. Hezbollah intended to mobilize these weapons as part of their “Conquer the Galilee” invasion plan and deliberately embedded this underground command center below a civilian area in southern Lebanon. 

During the targeted raid on the compound, the troops engaged in an encounter with a terrorist who had embedded himself in the headquarters. Guided by an Israeli Air Force aircraft, the terrorist was eliminated. 

IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari: “They were planning, with these motorcycles here, to enter Kiryat Shemona, to Yiftah, to villages and positions inside Israel and conduct a massacre. They were here only a couple of days ago.” (INN / VFI News)

“Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.” - Psalm 21:11

The US Embassy in Beirut is calling on Americans to leave Lebanon as soon as possible as the war between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. 

“US citizens in Lebanon are strongly encouraged to depart now,” the embassy said in a notice to citizens on Monday, October 14. 

“US citizens who choose not to depart at this time should prepare contingency plans should the situation deteriorate further.” 

Just 1,100 of the estimated 86,000 Americans who live in Lebanon have fled the nation so far, with the US setting aside thousands of seats on flights out of Lebanon since September 27, according to the State Department. 

The embassy, however, warned that the flights “will not continue indefinitely,” urging all Americans in Lebanon to make a decision sooner rather than later. Embassy officials stressed that any plans for those who choose not to leave “should not rely on the US government for assisted departure or evacuations.” (NYP/VFI News)

“Dear God, we pray for the innocent Lebanese civilians, as well as all the people of other ethnicities currently residing in Lebanon. We pray for their safety in Yeshua’s name, and we ask that You please protect them and give them appropriate shelter in all circumstances. We are so thankful for Your generous protection so far, and we pray that an all-out war will not erupt but if it does, that all innocent people will be safe and sound and have their needs met.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Monday evening, October 14, to accusations that the IDF has targeted UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, calling these accusations “completely false.” 

“The charge that Israel deliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel is completely false,” Netanyahu stated. “It’s exactly the opposite. Israel repeatedly asks UNIFIL to get out of harm’s way. It repeatedly asked them to temporarily leave the combat zone, which is right next to Israel's border with Lebanon.” 

“In fact,” he said, “on the day that Israel began its ground operation next to our border with Lebanon, we asked them specifically, ‘Please leave this area so you’re not harmed.’” 

Netanyahu declared that “Israel is not fighting UNIFIL, it is not fighting the people of Lebanon. It is fighting Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, which uses Lebanese territory to attack Israel. Hezbollah attacked Israel last year without any provocation on October 8th, a day after the Hamas massacre, and it’s continued to attack us ever since by launching over 10,000 rockets and missiles at Israel.” (INN / VFI News)

Two Republican congressmen demanded that the FBI begin “doing its job” and act to protect Jewish students by opening an investigation into anti-Israel groups at Columbia University who endorse and call for violence, American media reported. 

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) addressed a letter on Monday, October 14, to FBI assistant director James Dennehy, who runs the FBI New York Field Office. 

Ernst and Stefanik cited the statements of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) member Khymani James, who recently retracted his apology for saying “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and for saying “Be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.” 

The two lawmakers wrote in their letter, “Rarely has the FBI had such public and obvious evidence of potentially imminent violence. This cannot become another instance in which a terrible case of violence takes place at a school and the FBI issues a statement after the fact that the perpetrators were ‘on its radar,’ but [the FBI] did nothing. Put simply, the writing is on the wall and you have no excuse. Do your job,” they added. (INN /VFI News)  

Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous. - Psalm 38:19

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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