Hamas Official Killed in Beirut Drone Strike, Sparks Tensions
The killing of the deputy chief of Hamas’s political bureau has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, with the potential for further conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
A drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs targeted a Hezbollah stronghold and resulted in the death of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri on Tuesday. The strike hit a Hamas office, resulting in six fatalities, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.
Hamas confirmed al-Arouri’s death and condemned it as a “cowardly assassination” by Israel, vowing that attacks on Palestinians “inside and outside Palestine will not succeed in breaking the will and steadfastness of our people, or undermining the continuation of their valiant resistance.”
The news of Al-Arouri’s death has resulted in widespread mourning, with mosques in the occupied West Bank town of North Ramallah holding services and calling for a general strike in the area on Wednesday.
Al-Arouri, 57, was a prominent figure within Hamas, serving as the group’s deputy chief and one of the founders of its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. He had been living in exile in Lebanon after spending 15 years in an Israeli jail. The United States had labeled him as a “global terrorist” in 2015 and issued a $5 million reward for any information on him.
Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, with an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that Israel does not take responsibility for the strike. However, former Israeli envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon praised the attack, congratulating the Israeli army and intelligence agencies for killing Al-Arouri.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack, labeling it a “new Israeli crime” and warned against attempts to pull Lebanon into the conflict. Meanwhile, Hezbollah stated that the attack on Lebanon’s capital “will not pass without punishment.”
The strike and the subsequent tensions highlight the volatile situation in the region and the potential for further violence between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation and working to prevent an escalation of hostilities.