Senior Hamas Official Assassinated in Israeli Attack in Beirut

IQNA – Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, was assassinated in an Israeli drone attack in southern Beirut on Tuesday, according to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network.

The attack also killed six other people and wounded several others in a building in al-Musharrafieh district.

Hamas and Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance movement, condemned the assassination as a "complete act of terrorism" and a "dangerous attack" on the Lebanese sovereignty, and vowed to continue their resistance against the Israeli occupation and aggression.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, but has been waging a brutal war on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon since October 7. The regime officials had on numerous occasion said they would target Hamas officials even in other states.

The Israeli aggression on Gaza, which was triggered by a surprise retaliatory attack by Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, has killed more than 22,000 people, mostly women and children, and wounded at least 57,000 others. The regime has also cut off access to water, food and power supplies to the besieged territory.

Al-Arouri was the chief of staff of the resistance movement in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and was praised by Hamas as the "architect" of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. He was one of the most wanted figures by Israel, and had survived several assassination attempts in the past.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said that Israel will be held responsible for the killing of al-Arouri and his companions, who included Al-Qassam commanders Samir Fandi and Azzam Al-Aqra'. He said that the "Nazi-Zionist occupation" had expanded the scope of its aggression on the Palestinian people and their nation.

Hezbollah said that the assassination of al-Arouri "will undoubtedly not go unanswered and unpunished", and that it will only increase the faith and resolve of the regional resistance fighters to keep on their path "until victory and liberation".

The movement said that its resistance remains firm, proud, and faithful to its principles and commitments, and that its fighters are ready with their hand on the trigger.

Source: Agencies