[Anchor]
Israeli forces have released a video showing the last image of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar just before he was killed.
Iran and Hezbollah say Sinwar is a martyr, signaling an intense resistance, further escalating the war in the Middle East.
Reporter Jeong Yu-shin's report.
[Reporter]
A drone goes on reconnaissance inside the second floor of the ruined building.
A man with his face covered with cloth is sitting weakly on a chair full of dust.
When they find the drone, they throw a stick and resist for a while.
The Israeli military says the man in the video is Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
At the time, he released additional videos on social media, saying he killed three Hamas troops during a patrol in Rafa, southern Gaza, and identified a body after learning it looked like Sinwar.
The place where Sinwar was found was unexpected even by the Israeli army.
In the meantime, Israeli intelligence authorities have found that Sinwar was hiding with hostages in a deep underground tunnel.
[Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israeli military: Most likely stayed with hostages in a nearby underground space. We found Sinwar's DNA near a tunnel where six hostages were staying.
Local Israeli media said a large amount of cash and an identification card of the U.N. Palestinian Refugee Agency were also found at the site of Sinwar's death.
Sinwar was the architect and mastermind of Hamas' raid on Israel on October 7 last year, following Haniyeh, who was assassinated in late July.
Foreign media analyzed that the death of most senior Hamas leaders has dealt a serious blow to Iran and its axis of resistance.
However, Iran and Hezbollah are increasing their willingness to fight.
Iran's U.N. delegation said on social media that it would appoint Sinwar as a martyr and that the spirit of resistance would intensify.
Hezbollah also warned in a statement that it would engage in a new escalation with Israel.
[Mustafa Barguti / Palestinian National Council President: Sinwar fought to the end. They were not hiding behind Israeli hostages. It would seem like a hero to the Arabs against the Palestinians and Israelis.]
The international community has urged Hamas to release the hostages, putting pressure on Israel, calling it a turning point to end the Gaza war.
Tensions in the Middle East are expected to rise further as Israel continues its offensive with Hamas and Hezbollah, and is also preparing large-scale military action against Iran.
This is YTN Jeong Yu-shin.
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