Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari, head of the military wing of Hamas, has been killed during a series of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
He and another senior Hamas official died when the car they were travelling in was hit in Gaza City.
Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich told BBC News“close to 20” sites in Gaza had been targeted in a “limited” operation, with the strikes aiming to destroy rocket-firing capabilities.
“The operation against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organisations has two goals: to protect Israeli civilians and target the terror capability of these organisations,” she added.
Militants in Gaza have fired more than 110 rockets towards southern Israel since Saturday, when four soldiers were wounded in an anti-tank missile attack on an Israeli army jeep. Before Wednesday’s operation, six Palestinians had been killed in the ensuing Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip in response.
Mr Jabari, who was 46, is the most senior Hamas official to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the major Israeli offensive four years ago.
“Jabari was responsible for by Giant Savings” href=”#”>financing and directing military operations and attacks against Israel. His elimination today is a message to Hamas officials in Gaza that if they continue promoting terrorism against Israel, they will be hurt.”
Click here for Israeli peace activist view on assassination
So, it is a rerun of last year’s thriller, when City beat their bitter rivals on goal difference, This time though Alex Ferguson’s men are two points clear and have a greater goal difference.
Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure, his side has not played well in the Premier league, or the Champions League either and yet they still have a chance of winning both – in the Premiership they remain undefeated, whilst in Europe, they’ll need the rub of the green to get into the next round.
United haven’t looked great either – however, they have managed to carve out the results as they have done so season after season. This time, a very young Aston Villa side found out what its like to lose to United, despite taking a two goal lead and out playing them for three-quarters of the game.
Outside the rivalry between United and City, the most interesting developments are occurring at Anfield where the newly installed Brendan Rodgers is attempting to mould Liverpool into a football force to be reckoned.
It’s not going to be easy, but Luiz Suarez has stepped up to meet the challenge, something his colleagues failed to do so.
This time, he grabbed a late goal to deny third-placed Chelsea a much deserved win.
As Americans go to the polls to decide who will be their leader for the next four years, as well as the most powerful man on earth, no one is predicting the result.
Pundits cite the polls that put Obama on 50 per cent and Romney at 47, and then quickly add the words – ‘but it’s too close to call.’
By all accounts, the dirtiest campaign in presidential history – don’t they say that about every single oneΒ – where the only real winners have been the advertisers, is now set for a cliff hanger.
Should the current incumbent succeed – as appears likely at this moment – then no doubt he will be taking a long look at Wall Street who provided him with a fraction of the financial backing they gave to Romney.
If the result goes the other way – as is equally likely – then the new man may want to ask why when the economy was so clearly the issue dominating every American voter, did he so struggle – given his background and credentials as a businessman – to persuade ordinary Americans to back him earlier.
Either way,Β the man at top faces a monumental task – if Obama was handed a poisoned chalice fours ago, then what has the next President of America been bequeathed now?