In the wake of the Israeli drone strike that killed Deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, tensions in the region have escalated significantly. The strike targeted a Hamas office in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to the deaths of four Palestinians and three Lebanese individuals. Among the casualties were key Hamas officials, including Samir Findi Abu Amer and Azzam Al-Aqraa Abu Ammar.
Arouri, who served as the deputy head of Hamas’s politburo and played a pivotal role in founding its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, had been a prominent figure in the organization since 2017. He had recently been involved in talks mediated by Qatar, aiming to address issues arising from the October 7 and the ruthless war on Gaza.
Saleh al-Arouri, serving as the deputy head of Hamas’s politburo and a crucial figure in the founding of its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, had been engaged in talks mediated by Qatar to address issues stemming from the October 7 Hamas assault on Israeli territory.
Israeli spokerperson described the strike as a “surgical strike against the Hamas leadership,” clarifying that it was not directed at the Lebanese state or Hezbollah but specifically aimed at Hamas leadership.
The assassination prompted strong reactions. Hamas confirmed Arouri’s killing, calling it a terrorist act and another crime of Zionists and a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, while Islamic Jihad vowed revenge, declaring that the crime would not go unpunished. Iran asserted that the killing would intensify the fight against Israel, and Hezbollah announced that the attack “will not go without a response or punishment,” emphasizing its readiness to retaliate.
Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, announced plans to address the situation in an upcoming speech, reiterating previous warnings against Israeli assassinations on Lebanese soil.
In the broader context, daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel have persisted since the October 7 Hamas attack. Israeli actions have resulted in over 100 Hezbollah fighters and nearly two dozen civilians, including children and journalists, being killed.
Notably, more than 22,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since the October 7 incident, as reported by International media. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister expressed concern about the potential for a regional war, urging the West to pressure Israel to cease all violence and actions, extending beyond Lebanon to include Gaza. The coming 24 hours will be critical in determining whether there will be a response to Arouri’s assassination, adding to the uncertainty and volatility in the region. It appears that Israel is closing the doors of negotiations, and the likelihood of widespread and more deadly conflict is increasing.
The author, Atta Rasool Malik, hails from semi-tribal areas of Pakistan. He is a veteran and holds an M.Phil. degree in international relations from the National Defence University in Islamabad. His interests include political economy, the politics of South Asia, the Middle East, and Islamic and Jewish theology.