Beirut, Jan 3: An apparent Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed Hamas’ No. 2 political leader Tuesday, marking a potentially significant escalation of Israel’s war against the militant group and heightening the risk of a wider Middle East conflict.
Saleh Arouri, who was the most senior Hamas figure killed since the war with Israel began, was also a founder of the group’s military wing. His death could provoke major retaliation by Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militia.
The strike hit an apartment in a building in a Shiite district of Beirut that is a Hezbollah stronghold, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to strike back against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon.
Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been exchanging fire almost daily over the Israeli-Lebanese border since Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began nearly three months ago. But so far the Lebanese group has appeared reluctant to dramatically escalate the fighting.
A significant response now could send the conflict spiraling into all-out war on Israel’s northern border.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the strike was carried out by an Israeli drone, and Israeli officials declined to comment.
Speaking to reporters, Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari did not directly mention Arouri’s death but said,
“We are focused and remain focused on fighting against Hamas.” “We are on high readiness for any scenario,” he added.
The killing comes ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, even as the United States has tried to prevent a spread of the conflict, repeatedly warning Hezbollah – and its regional supporter, Iran – not to escalate the violence.
Assassination an act of cowardice: Iran FM
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday condemned the death of Saleh al-Arouri, the Hamas deputy chief who was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon, and termed it as an act of cowardice by the Jewish nation.
The minister said that al-Arouri’s “assassination” in Beirut on Tuesday was a “cowardly terrorist operation”. “This proves that the Zionist regime has not achieved any of its goals after weeks of war crimes, genocide and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank despite the direct support of the US.” (Agencies)