Assassination of Saleh al-Arouri explained

2024 Dahieh attack
Partof:the Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present) and the Israel–Hamas war
Location:Dahieh, Lebanon
Coordinates:33.8573°N 35.5144°W
Type:Drone attack or airstrike
Motive:Unknown
Perpetrator: Israel (presumed)
Patrons:-->
Organizers:-->
Reported Deaths:7[1]
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Target:Saleh al-Arouri

On 2 January 2024, Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy leader of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli strike on an office in the Dahieh suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. The strike also killed six other individuals, including additional high-ranking Hamas militants.[2] [3]

Saleh al-Arouri was the deputy leader of the Hamas political bureau and one of the architects of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[4] He was also responsible for the expansion of Hamas' activities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including attacks on Israelis.[5] [6] [7] This attack is widely believed to have been carried out by Israel, Hamas' main adversary. However, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in this incident.[8] [9]

The assassination occurred a day before Hezbollah commemorated the fourth anniversary of the assassination of senior Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.[10]

Background

On 8 October 2023, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms one day into the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Israel retaliated by launching drone strikes and artillery shells at Hezbollah positions near Lebanon's boundary with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The outbreak of the conflict had followed Hezbollah's declaration of support and praise for the Hamas attack on Israel, which took place on 7 October.[11] [12] Hamas in Lebanon and the Palestine Islamic Jihad have since joined the fighting with Hezbollah. Since 1969, Palestinian militia groups have held base in Lebanon after being ousted from Jordan.

Up until 2015, Arouri lived in Turkey; in December 2015, it was reported that he had left Turkey for Lebanon.[13] In 2015, the United States had placed a $5 million bounty on Saleh al-Arouri and designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.[14]

Lead-up

Allied groups of Hamas specifically warned the group against using the office after they suspected that its location had become exposed to Israeli intelligence.[15] Hezbollah had written letters to Hamas. Numerous members brought phones with them which placed them at further risk of surveillance and the office was also equipped with at least one computer and had Wi-Fi connection. Lebanese security officials suspect that a stealth plane fired precision-guided missiles into the office. A security official informed the National News that “The radars that we have are civil radars, we don’t have military radar capability that can pick up on the presence of stealth planes.”

Attack

According to CCTV footage published by MTV Lebanon, the attack took place around 17:41 (local time) in Dahieh, a residential suburban neighborhood of Beirut.[16] Cell phone footage show at least one car engulfed in flames in front of a damaged residential building as dozens gather in the area just after the strike.[17] Early reports said that four Hamas members were killed but increased to six which included a possible civilian.[18] Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV announced that Hamas Operations Chief in Lebanon, Samir Fendi, and Azzam al-Aqra were among those killed in the strike alongside al-Arouri.[19] Ismail Haniyeh later identified three additional Hamas members who were killed. He announced the deaths of Hamas members Mahmoud Zaki Shahin, Mohammad Bashasha, Mohammad al-Rayes and Mohammad Hamoud.

Two senior U.S. officials confirmed that Israel was responsible for the strike.

Deaths

List of those killed that were eventually announced by Hamas.

NameRoleRef
Saleh al-ArouriDeputy Chairman of the Political Bureau of Hamas
Samir FendiAl-Qassam Commanders[20]
Azzam Al-Aqra
Muhammad Al-RayesOther militants and secuirity officials[21]
Muhammad Bashasha[22]
Ahmed Hammoud
Mahmoud Zaki Shahin

Aftermath

Saleh al-Arouri was the highest ranking Hamas leader killed since the beginning of the war until the Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh[23] In his second speech since the beginning of the war, Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said that Hezbollah is not afraid of an all-out war with Israel.[24] He described the attack as a "major and dangerous crime" that "will not go unanswered and unpunished".[25] Hezbollah announced that it carried out nine attacks targeting Israeli positions.[24] On the same day, an Israeli airstrike in Naqoura killed local Hezbollah commander Hussein Yazbek and three of his bodyguards, and injured nine other Hezbollah operatives.[26]

Reactions

Governments

Groups and organizations

Demonstrations

Immediately after the conformation of al-Arouri's death, numerous demonstrations took place in Lebanese cities. Protests were held at refugee camps including the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli.[38] This included protests in the city of Ramallah, near Arouri's hometown, where demonstrators chanted: "We will follow your footsteps", and "revenge, revenge, Qassam!"

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2 January 2023 . Israeli drone kills deputy Hamas chief in Beirut . Reuters . 2 January 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104114000/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/explosion-southern-beirut-suburb-dahiyeh-two-security-sources-2024-01-02/ . live .
  2. News: 2 January 2024 . Israeli strike in Lebanon kills senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri -security sources . 2 January 2024 . Reuters . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103180230/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strike-lebanon-kills-senior-hamas-official-saleh-al-arouri-security-2024-01-02/ . live .
  3. News: Hamas' Al Aqsa TV: two Al Qassam Brigades leaders killed in Israeli strike in Beirut . 2 January 2024 . Reuters . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103050051/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-al-aqsa-tv-two-al-qassam-brigades-leaders-killed-israeli-strike-beirut-2024-01-02/ . live .
  4. News: Ari . Lior Ben . 2 January 2024 . Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas No. 2 killed in Hamas offices blast in Beirut . 2 January 2024 . Ynetnews . en . 10 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240610201422/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj6y2hzu6 . live .
  5. Web site: Frantzman . Seth J. . 3 January 2024 . How Israel's assassination of Arouri ends an era for Hamas . 3 January 2024 . . en-US . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104100336/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-780537 . live .
  6. Web site: Kampeas . Ron . 2 January 2024 . Top Hamas official assassinated in Beirut, reportedly by Israel . 3 January 2024 . . en . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104061550/https://www.jta.org/2024/01/02/israel/top-hamas-official-assassinated-in-beirut-reportedly-by-israel/ . live .
  7. News: Ravid . Barak . 2 January 2024 . Israeli drone strike kills senior Hamas official in Beirut, sources say . . 4 January 2024 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104105037/https://www.axios.com/2024/01/02/hamas-saleh-arouri-killed-beirut-hezbollah-israel-gaza . live .
  8. News: Al-Mughrabi . Nidal . Gebeily . Maya . Hafezi . Parisa . 3 January 2024 . Killing of Arouri sends menacing message to Hamas chiefs, may hamper truce effort . registration . live . https://archive.today/20240103153947/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/killing-arouri-sends-menacing-message-hamas-chiefs-may-hamper-truce-effort-2024-01-03/ . 3 January 2024 . Reuters.
  9. News: Berg . Raffi . Baker . Graeme . 2 January 2024 . Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri killed in Beirut blast . 4 January 2024 . BBC News . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104113959/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67866346 . live .
  10. Web site: 2 January 2024 . نصرالله يطل في ذكرى سليماني فكيف سيرد على تهديدات إسرائيل وتطبيق القرار 1701؟ . Nasrallah appears at Soleimani's memorial. How will he respond to Israel's threats and the implementation of Resolution 1701? . Al-Quds . ar . 2 January 2024 . 16 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240116064334/https://www.alquds.co.uk/%d9%86%d8%b5%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%87-%d9%8a%d8%b7%d9%84-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%b0%d9%83%d8%b1%d9%89-%d8%b3%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%81%d9%83%d9%8a%d9%81-%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b1%d8%af-%d8%b9/ . live .
  11. Web site: Goldenberg . Tia . Shurafa . Wafaa . 8 October 2023 . Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire as Israeli soldiers battle Hamas on second day of surprise attack . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008051308/https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71 . 8 October 2023 . 8 October 2023 . . en.
  12. News: 8 October 2023 . Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire . en . . live . 8 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231008065933/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/ . 8 October 2023.
  13. Web site: "Al-Quds al-Arabi": Hamas leader Salah al-Aruri no longer lives in Turkey . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160513212316/http://en.israel-today.ru/al-quds-al-arabi-hamas-leader-salah-al-aruri-no-longer-lives-in-turkey.html . 13 May 2016 . 28 April 2016 . en.israel-today.ru.
  14. Web site: 2 January 2024 . Israeli drone strike in Lebanon's Beirut kills Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri . Al Arabiya English . 2 January 2024 . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103203024/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/01/02/Explosion-in-southern-Beirut-suburb-sources-say- . live .
  15. Web site: Homsi . Nada . 22 January 2024 . Seven phones and a marked-out office: how Israel found and killed a Hamas leader in Beirut . 22 January 2024 . The National . en . 22 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240122160400/https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/2024/01/22/how-israel-found-and-killed-hamas-leader-saleh-al-arouri-in-beirut/ . live .
  16. Web site: فيديو للحظة استهداف صالح العاروري . 14 January 2024 . MTV Lebanon . ar.
  17. News: Boxerman . Aaron . Hubbard . Ben . Bergman . Ronen . Schmitt . Eric . 2 January 2024 . Israel-Hamas War: Blast in Beirut Kills Senior Hamas Leader . en-US . The New York Times . 2 January 2024 . 0362-4331 . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102080814/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/02/world/israel-supreme-court-gaza-news . live .
  18. Web site: Presse . AFP-Agence France . Lebanese State Media Says Four Killed In Israeli Drone Strike On Hamas Office In Beirut . 2 January 2024 . www.barrons.com . en-US . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103203947/https://www.barrons.com/news/lebanese-state-media-says-four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-hamas-office-in-beirut-c7aa3c79 . live .
  19. Web site: Al-Aqsa TV affiliated with Hamas: Al-Qassam Brigades commanders Samir Fandi Abu Amer and Azzam Al-Aqra Abu Ammar killed in Israeli attack in Beirut . 2 January 2024 . LBCIV7 . en . 5 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240405232236/https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/744829/lbci-lebanon-articles/en . live .
  20. Web site: Hamas Operations Chief in Lebanon martyred in assassination attack . 2 January 2024 . en.royanews.tv . en . 1 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240401120406/https://en.royanews.tv/news/48031/2024-01-02 . dead .
  21. News: Assassination of Arouri exposes occupation's brutality, says Hamas leader . 2 January 2024 . 3 January 2024 . Roya News . 5 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240105082725/https://en.royanews.tv/news/48033/Assassination%20of%20Arouri%20exposes%20occupation%27s%20brutality%2C%20says%20Hamas%20leader . live .
  22. News: Seven Hamas members killed in Israeli assassination: Haniyeh . 2 January 2024 . 3 January 2024 . . Ali . Harb . Brian . Osgood . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102233845/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/2/israel-hamas-war-live-almost-22000-palestinians-killed-by-israel-in-gaza?update=2594138 . live .
  23. News: Leader's Killing is a Blow, but Not a Knockout, for Hamas . The New York Times . 3 January 2024 . Hubbard . Ben . 4 January 2024 . 5 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240105025334/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/world/middleeast/hamas-leader-saleh-al-arouri-killed-ramifications.html . live .
  24. Web site: Harb . Ali . Hezbollah's Nasrallah says 'not afraid of war' after killing of al-Arouri . 3 January 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 12 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240412172010/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut . live .
  25. https://www.timesofisrael.com/nasrallah-threatens-israel-over-arouri-hit-warns-of-war-without-rules-or-limits/
  26. Web site: 4 January 2024 . Hezbollah confirms death of four operatives, including a local commander . 4 January 2024 . I24news . en.
  27. Web site: "توريط للبنان".. ميقاتي يدين انفجار ضاحية بيروت الجنوبية . "Involving Lebanon"... Mikati condemns the explosion in the southern suburb of Beirut . Sky News Arabia . ar.
  28. News: 2 January 2024 . ایران ترور صالح العاروری را به‌شدت محکوم کرد . Iran strongly condemned the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri . 2 January 2024 . mizanonline . Persian . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102182955/https://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/4752647/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%88%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF . live .
  29. Web site: 3 January 2024 . נשיא איראן: "ישראל תשלם מחיר כבד על הפיגוע בקבר סולימאני" . The President of Iran: "Israel will pay a heavy price for the attack on Soleimani's tomb" . 3 January 2024 . www.maariv.co.il . he.
  30. Web site: Iran's president: Assassination of al-Arouri is 'a crime' . Al Jazeera . 4 January 2024 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104012911/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut?update=2595133 . live .
  31. Web site: Israeli drone kills Hamas deputy leader in Beirut -Lebanese, Palestinian sources . 2 January 2024 . Reuters . en.
  32. Web site: Israeli lawmaker congratulates military, secret services for assassination . Al Jazeera . 4 January 2024 . 22 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240122012716/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut . live .
  33. Web site: Strike on Hamas leader in Lebanon sends tension spiking across Middle East . 3 January 2024 . Al Jazeera . en . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103122304/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/3/assassination-of-hamas-leader-in-lebanon-raises-concern-of-escalation . live .
  34. Web site: UN chief urged maximum restraint following assassination of Hamas deputy chief in Lebanon . 2 January 2024 . www.aa.com.tr . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102200539/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-chief-urged-maximum-restraint-following-assassination-of-hamas-deputy-chief-in-lebanon/3098629 . live .
  35. Web site: Hamas blames Israel for 'cowardly assassination' of deputy leader Saleh al Arouri . 2 January 2024 . Sky News . en.
  36. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 3, 2024 . 5 January 2024 . 8 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108182443/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-3-2024 . live .
  37. Web site: الجماعة الاسلامية . 10 March 2024 . www.al-jamaa.org . 10 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310200628/https://www.al-jamaa.org/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA2530/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A . live .
  38. Web site: Guldogan . Diyar . 3 January 2024 . Protests held in Palestine, Lebanon after killing of Hamas deputy chief . 3 January 2024 . www.aa.com.tr . 3 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103070548/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/protests-held-in-palestine-lebanon-after-killing-of-hamas-deputy-chief/3098746 . live .

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