The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israel presents an opportunity to end a "terrible war" in the Gaza Strip, the US defense chief said Thursday.
"Sinwar's death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting ceasefire, end this terrible war, allow Israelis to return safely to their homes in southern Israel, rush in far more humanitarian assistance to ease the misery in Gaza, and bring relief and hope to the Palestinians who have endured so much under Hamas's oppressive rule," Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
His remarks came after Israeli army spokesperson Avichae Adree announced the killing of Sinwar in Gaza.
Austin said Sinwar's killing is a "major achievement in counterterrorism."
The Pentagon said earlier that US forces were "not directly involved" in Sinwar's killing. "This was an Israeli operation."
"The United States has helped contribute information and intelligence as it relates to hostage recovery and the tracking and locating of Hamas leaders who have been responsible for holding hostages," spokesman Pat Ryder told reporters.
Sinwar became Hamas' political chief in August, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new president on July 31.
US President Joe Biden said Thursday he is sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel in the next five days and he is more "hopeful" about a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
His remarks came after he arrived in Berlin, following Israeli army spokesperson Avichae Adree's announcement that Israel had killed Sinwar in Gaza.
Biden said Sinwar "had a lot of blood in his hands, American blood, Israeli blood and others," adding that now is the time to move on. Move toward to a cease-fire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we're going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world. It's time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. So that's what we're ready to do."
He said he talked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the two leaders "are going to work out what is the day after now. How do we secure Gaza and move on?"
The White House said Biden spoke with Netanyahu to congratulate him on the mission in Gaza that killed Sinwar.
"President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu also discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and to bring the war to a close with Israel's security assured and Hamas never again able to control Gaza. They agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams," the White House said in a statement.
Sinwar became Hamas' political chief in August, succeeding Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new president on July 31.
