Terrorist militia - Deputy Hamas leader allegedly killed in explosion in Beirut
According to Lebanese security officials, the number two of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas has been killed in an explosion in a suburb of Beirut. The Hezbollah-affiliated television station Al-Manar also reported that Al-Aruri was dead. In total, at least three people were killed, as the state news agency NNA reported.
Explosion in Beirut: videos show burning car
The exact background to the explosion initially remained unclear. "The Vice President of the Hamas Politburo, Sheikh Saleh al-Aruri, was martyred in a Zionist attack in Beirut," Hamas announced on its official television channel, al-Aksa TV, and its other media. Israel's military would not comment on the reports when asked by DPA.
Saleh al-Aruri was killed along with his bodyguards in the attack on the Hamas office south of Beirut, a senior security representative told the AFP news agency on Tuesday. Shortly afterwards, the Hamas TV station reported the "assassination" of Al-Aruri. Videos after the explosion in Beirut showed at least one car on fire near a busy street. Ambulance sirens could also be heard. White smoke rose above the area.
Al-Aruri was considered the head of Hamas' military arm in the West Bank
Al-Aruri, whom Israel saw as the mastermind behind attacks in the West Bank, had long been considered a possible target for an attack. He was considered responsible for the activities of the Hamas military wing in the West Bank. Israel and Hamas had exchanged threats in the summer - even before the start of their current war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Al-Aruri knew "very well why he and his friends are in hiding".
The explosion occurred on the evening before the 3rd anniversary of the killing of General Ghassem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The USA had killed him in a drone attack in Iraq in 2020. Recently, the high-ranking Iranian General Sejed-Rasi Mussawi was also killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike in Syria.
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Despite the initial uncertainty, Hamas officially confirmed that the Deputy Leader, Sheikh Saleh al-Aruri, was killed in an alleged Zionist attack, resulting in an explosion at a Hamas office south of Beirut. Videos from the aftermath showed a burning car near a busy street, and ambulance sirens could be heard, with white smoke rising above the area.
Source: www.stern.de
