Gaza, Palestine – An Israeli drone targeted Raed Saad, a senior leader in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, with four missiles on Saturday while he was on al-Rashid Road, west of Gaza City.
Reports indicate that at least four Palestinians were killed in the bombing
that targeted a vehicle carrying Saad and his companions.
The Israeli army describes him as the “second man” in Hamas
The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that a “key Hamas terrorist” had been targeted.
Describing the target, Raed, as the second-in-command of Hamas
inside Gaza and the head of manufacturing in the Qassam Brigades.
The army stated that the targeting was in response to the detonation
of an explosive device against an Israeli force.
He noted that two previous assassination attempts targeting
Saad had been cancelled in the recent period before they were carried out today.
According to circulating information, Raed was targeted while traveling in a Jeep west of Gaza City.
He was accompanied by a number of other armed men believed to be his bodyguards.
Who is Raed Saad?
Raed is one of the veteran leaders of Hamas’ military wing, and previously served as head of the operations wing.
He is credited with planning and writing the “Jericho Wall” plan,
which Hamas implemented on October 7, 2023.
Following Operation “Guardian of the Walls” in 2021,
Saad was removed from his position as head of the operations wing,
He later took over responsibility for weapons production
and for rebuilding and strengthening the wing’s military capabilities.
He is currently considered the second most important figure in the organization within Gaza,
after Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the leader of the military wing.
It is noted that Saad survived several previous Israeli assassination attempts during the war.
His name was circulating about two months ago when it was linked to a deadline given
by US President Donald Trump to Hamas to respond to the Gaza “peace plan”.
