JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Israel said on Wednesday it had killed Hamas' newly appointed armed wing chief in Gaza, days after it killed his predecessor, while intensifying military pressure in Gaza and expanding operations in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said Mohammed Odeh was killed in an operation in Gaza on Tuesday.

A relative of Odeh confirmed his death to Reuters and said the funeral would take place after noon prayers in Gaza City. Hamas has yet to issue an official statement.

Gaza health officials said six people were killed and more than 20 others wounded in the same Israeli strike that destroyed an upper floor of an apartment building in the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City. Rescue workers were still at the scene looking for more possible casualties.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that Odeh, whom he described as Hamas' fourth-ranking official, had been killed.

"We promised that Hamas will not have military or civilian control over Gaza, and so it will be," Katz said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israeli forces had attempted to assassinate Odeh in a strike carried out under his and Katz's direction, but gave no details on the outcome.

Odeh was appointed about a week ago to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli strike on May 15.

Lebanon operations

Hours before the attack, Israel announced it had expanded ground operations in Lebanon, where it has been fighting Hezbollah militants since it launched attacks on Iran with the United States at the end of February.

"The (Israel Defense Forces) are operating with large forces on the ground and seizing strategic areas," Netanyahu said after meeting with Katz and senior military officials.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah said its fighters "clashed with the enemy forces at point-blank range" in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, on the edge of an Israeli-declared "yellow line" in southern Lebanon, where its troops have been operating.

Agencies - Xinhua