Hamas Deputy Chief Saleh al-Arouri killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
2 Jan 2024 18:58
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A strike targeting a building in Beirut's Southern Suburb has killed at least 6 people, including Hamas deputy chief al-Arouri.

A leader of the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, seen in his office in Lebanon, dressed in military attire following Israeli threats to assassinate him in August 2023. (Social media)

The Deputy Chief of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement, Saleh al-Arouri, was martyred on Tuesday evening, as a result of an attack that targeted the Southern Suburb of Beirut.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that "an Israeli drone targeted an office of the Hamas movement in Msharafieh" while "ambulances reached the area to transport casualties."

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that an Israeli drone targeted the building with three missiles, resulting in the martyrdom of six individuals.

استشهاد الشيخ صالح العاروري في عدوان اسرائيلي على الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت#حماس #لبنان pic.twitter.com/BoruUyH6Bw
— Israa Alfass 🔻 إسراء الفاس (@Israa_Alfass) January 2, 2024

He added, "Medical teams, the army, and security forces are working to remove the rubble left by the Israeli raid on the building in the southern suburb."

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, mourned the "great national leader," Saleh al-Arouri, who commanded the Resistance in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and was the architect of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

The late martyr and leader had previously discussed in an interview for Al Mayadeen increasing Israeli death threats against him. When asked about the issue, martyr al-Arouri said, "The Israeli threat against me will not change my convictions, and it will not have an impact on the path [that I have chosen]."

"We hope that our lives will end with martyrdom, which we cherish."

Late martyr and leader - Saleh al-Arouri

Following the launch of the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, martyr al-Arouri met with the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, on October 25.

During the meeting, the three leaders assessed the international and regional stances taken and discussed the necessary actions for the Axis of Resistance parties in this sensitive stage. They also explored ways to achieve a genuine victory for the Resistance in Gaza and Palestine and stop the aggression on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Al-Arouri emphasized in his previous statements that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is a response to the Israeli occupation's crimes and a battle for occupied al-Quds, stressing the need for all the free people of the world with human consciences to unite and act together.

Israeli media have recently highlighted repeated Israeli threats of al-Arouri's assassination to prevent a scenario of Unity of Battlefields between the Axis of Resistance parties.

The Yedioth Ahronoth news website pointed out that retired Israeli general Eitan Dangot, who served as the military secretary for three security ministers, persistently advocated for al-Arouri's assassination and labeled the Palestinian leader as "the most dangerous and important person in Hamas today."

Israeli journalist Elior Levy emphasized the strategic importance of al-Arouri, describing him as the "brilliant mind of Hamas" in framing the movement's military apparatus outside the Gaza Strip. Levy pointed out that al-Arouri has become "one of the central figures" concerning the Israeli security establishment and other intelligence agencies worldwide.