Hamas deputy leader killed in an alleged Israeli drone strike
Hamas deputy leader killed in an alleged Israeli drone strike
Reuters
The deputy of leader of Hamas has been killed in an Israeli drone strike, according to Hezbollah media.
Saleh al Arouri, one of the terrorist group's founding members, was killed in the south of Beruit.
He was considered the de facto leader of Hamas’s military wing in the West Bank.
Hamas have confirmed al Arouri's death.
He was considered the de facto leader of Hamas’s military wing in the West Bank
Reuters
Israeli officials declined to comment, saying they do not respond to reports in the foreign media.
At a press conference in November, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had "instructed the Mossad to act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are", after the October 7 attacks.
At the same press conference, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said all Hamas leaders "are living on borrowed time… The struggle is worldwide."
Based in Lebanon, al Arouri, 57, was deputy head of the terror group’s political bureau and one of the group's officials most closely connected to Iran.
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A view from two angles, of a strike on a building in the location given as Lebanon in this still image taken from handout video released December 30, 2023
Reuters
He was designated a "global terrorist" by the US government in 2015, who put out a $5million reward for information about him.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the blast killed four people and was carried out by an Israeli drone.
According to the reports, the strike targeted an office belonging to Hamas in Mushrifiyah in the southern suburbs of Beruit.
Both an apartment and a vehicle are understood to be the intended targets.
He was designated a "global terrorist" by the US government in 2015
Reuters
The Israeli assassination of Hamas’ vice president is considered a significant Israeli escalation on the Lebanese front.
The explosion in Beirut on Tuesday night follows an escalation in fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah on the border of Israel and Lebanon since 7 October.
Both Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters have been killed in the cross-border exchanges.
Last month, Israel’s Minister of Defence Benny Gantz said Israeli forces would act to remove Hezbollah from the border if its attacks continued.