BEIRUT. An Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday resulted in the death of Saleh Arouri, the No. 2 political leader of Hamas, marking a potential escalation in Israel’s conflict with the militant group and increasing the risk of a broader Middle East conflict.
Arouri, a founder of Hamas’ military wing, was the most senior Hamas figure killed since the beginning of the war with Israel. The strike targeted an apartment in a building in a Shiite district of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. The Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon.
The strike, reportedly carried out by an Israeli drone according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, comes amid almost daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military over the Israeli-Lebanese border since the start of Israel’s campaign in Gaza nearly three months ago. A significant retaliation from Hezbollah now could escalate the conflict into a full-scale war on Israel’s northern border.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, while not directly mentioning Arouri’s death, stated, “We are focused and remain focused on fighting against Hamas. We are on high readiness for any scenario.”
The killing occurs ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who, despite U.S. efforts to prevent a spread of the conflict, has repeatedly warned Hezbollah and its regional supporter, Iran, not to escalate violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the assault in Gaza until Hamas is crushed and the more than 100 hostages held by the militant group are freed, a process he estimates could take several more months. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have recently warned of intensified action against Hezbollah unless its cross-border fire ceases.
Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have consistently threatened to target Hamas leaders wherever they are. The blast in the Beirut suburb of Musharafieh resulted in four deaths, according to the Lebanese news agency, with Hamas confirming Arouri’s death alongside six other members of the group, including two military commanders.
Haniyeh, Hamas’ supreme political leader, stated that the movement is “more powerful and determined” following the attack, emphasizing that strong individuals within the group will carry on after those killed. Hezbollah labeled the strike “a serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty, and resistance,” vowing that the crime will not go unanswered.
As Lebanon fears being drawn into a full-fledged war since the Gaza conflict began, the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, causing significant destruction in southern Lebanon, remains a stark memory for the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
