The Israeli military killed Yehiya Bia, the head of Hamas’ rocket-launching unit, in a targeted strike Sunday in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Hamas did not immediately confirm the report.

“We can confirm a direct hit,” the army spokesperson said by telephone.

Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said Bia was “the commander of Hamas’ rocket launching units” whom the Israeli forces had “intercepted and killed.”

The Israeli army claims that 544 rockets had struck various parts of Israel since hostilities between the two sides intensified Wednesday with the killing of the Hamas movement’s military leader in Gaza.

Agencies