02 January 2024 , 17:41
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A top Hamas official has been killed in an explosion in Beirut, according to the militant group.
Saleh al-Arouri died along with three people in the blast, according to the Hezbollah-run National News Agency, who said a strike had been carried out by an Israeli drone. Israel has not yet commented on the strike.
al-Arouri, 57, was deputy head of Hamas's political wing, and was regarded as the leader of Hamas’s military operations in the West Bank. In November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the foreign intelligence agency Mossad to "act against the heads of Hamas wherever they are".
al-Arouri, 57, was deputy head of Hamas's political wing, and was regarded as the leader of Hamas’s military operations in the West Bank (Getty Images)The explosion is said to have shook Musharafieh, one of the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs, which are a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group, an ally of Hamas. It caused a fire in Hadi Nasrallah Street south of Beirut.
Videos circulating on social media showed serious damage and fire. The explosion came after more than two months of heavy exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and members of Hezbollah along Lebanon's southern border. Earlier on Tuesday, Hezbollah said its fighters carried out several attacks along the Lebanon-Israel border targeting Israeli military posts. More than 160 Hezbollah members have been killed since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7.
Israel strikes Lebanon and Gaza as leader warns enemies will 'pay heavy price'
Israel's army meanwhile announced that several thousand troops would be taken out of Gaza in the coming weeks - though it has not said publicly whether the withdrawal reflects a new phase of the war. The move is in line with the plans that Israeli leaders have outlined for a low-intensity campaign, expected to last for much of the year, that focuses on remaining Hamas strongholds.