Senior Hamas Official Killed in Drone Strike in Beirut
In a shocking turn of events, Saleh Arouri, a senior Hamas official, has been killed in a drone strike in a southern suburb of Beirut. The strike comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously issued threats against him. Arouri, who was designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. Department of Treasury, was accused of masterminding attacks against Israel in the West Bank.
In an interview prior to his death, Arouri acknowledged the possibility of his own assassination and issued a stern warning to Israel. He threatened them with an unprecedented defeat in the case of a comprehensive war. Arouri had a long history with Hamas, having joined the group in the occupied West Bank before going into exile in Syria. Due to various political changes and conflicts in the region, he later moved to Turkey and then Beirut.
Arouri played a pivotal role in strengthening the ties between Hamas and Hezbollah. He was instrumental in the group’s reconciliation with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The drone strike in Beirut specifically targeted an apartment building, resulting in the deaths of Arouri and six other Hamas members, including two military commanders.
While Hezbollah and Hamas officials have blamed Israel for the attack, Israeli officials have declined to comment on the matter. If Israel is indeed responsible for the strike, it would mark the first attack on Beirut since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Such an incident could potentially lead to a major escalation in the conflict in Lebanon.
Hezbollah, a Lebanese political party and military organization, has vowed to respond to the attack. They described it as a serious assault on Lebanon, its people, security, sovereignty, and resistance. Iran, a staunch supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah, has also condemned the killing. They view it as a sign of Israel’s defeat before Palestinian militant groups in the recent Gaza war.
The repercussions of this targeted killing are likely to reverberate throughout the region. It remains to be seen how Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Palestinian militant groups will respond to the loss of a key figure. The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, leaving the future uncertain for all parties involved.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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