Israel-Hamas War Day 227: What's happening in Iran, Gaza?

Following the announcement of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi's death by Iranian state-backed media and government officials, several world leaders and heads of terrorist organizations expressed condolences on Monday morning.

Hamas released a statement saying, "We express our shared feelings of grief and pain with the brotherly Iranian people" while expressing solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The terrorist organization called those killed "a group of the best Iranian leaders who had a long journey in Iran’s renaissance."

They commended the leaders for supporting the Palestinian cause and resistance against Israel. They expressed confidence in Iran's "deep-rooted institutions" that will enable it to overcome "the repercussions of this great loss." 

An Israel Air Force aircraft struck and eliminated the terrorist Zaher Huli (also known as "Abu Hamed"), who held roles in Hamas's military wing and the Hamas Police in central Gaza, the IDF and the Shin Bet announced.

Zaher reportedly used his position to build connections with other Hamas terrorists and promote terror attacks on Israel.

During an additional operation on Sunday, the terrorist Rami Khalil Faki, who held roles in Hamas' military wing and Hamas Police in the area of Nuseirat, was also targeted in an aerial strike.

Rami Khalil Faki commanded armed terrorists who carried out attacks against IDF troops. His deputy and four additional Hamas terrorist operatives were eliminated together with him.

The Israel Air Force attacked Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon overnight, the IDF reported on Monday morning. 

Among the targets were Hezbollah military buildings in the areas of Lydda, Jibbain, and Odaisseh, as well as an observation post in the area of Chihine in southern Lebanon.  

Here are some key facts about Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's first vice president who has become Iran's interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

As interim president, Mokhber is part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organize a new presidential election within 50 days of the president's death.

Born on Sept. 1, 1955, Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.

Mokhber was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia's military, sources told Reuters at the time. The team also included two senior officials from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council.

Mokhber was previously head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death was confirmed on Monday morning, according to the Iranian state-run Mehr news agency.

Vice President Mansouri later also confirmed President Raisi's death in a helicopter crash on X, formerly Twitter. 

Raisi's death was reported along with the deaths of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others. According to Mehr, all passengers on board were killed.

The semi-official Iranian Tasnim news agency noted that identification efforts of the bodies found at the crash site were ongoing.

Lt. Col. (Res.) Avi Kalo, former head of the Prisoners and Missing Persons Division at the military’s Intelligence Unit, shared his perspective on the operation to recover the bodies of four hostages and the continued efforts of the IDF to free the hostages on Sunday with Udi Segal and Anat Davidov on Radio 103FM.

"Locating the bodies of four hostages demonstrated very high intelligence capabilities and the fact that we have a certain operational foothold on the ground. We cannot pin our hopes on the operational foothold being the one to bring all the hostages back home," Kalo said at the beginning of his interview.

Houthis launched a ballistic missile at ships in the Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea, the US military reported on Monday overnight.

No injuries or damage to vessels were reported.