Hamas military chief 'assassinated' by Israeli airstrike

[NewsCaster]

Hamas' military chief was killed when his car was hit by an Israeli airstrike, according to Hamas. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.By Lawahez Jabari, NBC NewsUpdated at 11.10 a.m. ET: TEL AVIV -- The head of the militant wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement was "assassinated" in an airstrike Wednesday, Hamas and Israeli officials said, as Israel launched a series of ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Fauazy Brehom told NBC News that Ahmed Jabari was killed in the attack by Israeli forces. Jabari was the most senior commander of Hamas' military wing, the Ezzidine Al-Qassam Brigades.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld A statement from the Al-Qassam Brigades said that Israel had “opened the gates of Hell.”

Jabari is the most senior Hamas official to have died due to Israeli military action since the killing of Saeed Seyam four years ago.

NBCNews