Israel kills Hamas Deputy Leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut airstrike, escalating tensions with Hezbollah

BEIRUT— In an incident not seen since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, Hamas confirmed the assassination of Deputy Head of its Political Bureau, Saleh al-Arouri, along with two escorts, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday evening.

Reports from the National Media Agency in Lebanon indicate that the Israeli strike targeted a Hamas office in the Mishrifiya residential area during a meeting of Palestinian leaders. Tragically, the strike resulted in the death of six additional individuals and injuries to others, including members of Hamas and Lebanese civilians.

In the wake of the targeted assassination, Israel has heightened its state of alert across all fronts and throughout the country, anticipating potential retaliatory actions.

Addressing the incident, Ibrahim Mrad, President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) in Lebanon, declared that acts of terrorism serve as acts of betrayal among factions, ultimately benefiting Israel. Mrad emphasized that, regrettably, innocent lives, often belonging to the Shiite community, bear the brunt of these destructive actions.

“The destruction of property and loss of innocent lives occur in pursuit of the agendas and policies of Hezbollah and Iran,” Mrad added, shedding light on the broader implications of regional power dynamics influencing such tragic events.