January 2, 2024 : In a significant development, Hamas’s deputy leader abroad, Saleh al-Arouri, has been reported killed in an alleged Israeli strike in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. The strike, said to be carried out by an Israeli drone, targeted a Hamas office and resulted in a blast that claimed six lives, including al-Arouri.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency attributed the explosion to an Israeli drone, although Israeli officials have refrained from commenting on the incident.
The precision strike on a third-floor apartment, serving as a Hamas office, underscores the heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli government has previously pledged to target all leaders of Hamas following the group’s October 7 attack on Israel.
Saleh al-Arouri, 57, played a pivotal role in orchestrating West Bank terrorism against Israel and was considered a key figure in Hamas’s military operations. The reported strike could have broader implications, potentially escalating regional conflicts, especially given Hezbollah’s stated intention to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon.
Hamas officials condemned the strike, labeling it a “cowardly assassination.” Meanwhile, Fatah, the party led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, declared a general strike in response to the incident.
Israeli leaders, including MK Danny Danon and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, took to social media to express their reactions. Danon congratulated Israeli security forces for the operation, while Smotrich quoted scripture, signaling a more ambivalent stance.
The situation adds a layer of complexity to the already tense relations in the region, raising concerns about potential further escalations and responses from Hezbollah and other factions. The Israeli government’s silence on the matter adds to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
