Israel braces for attack after Hamas leader’s slay
Iran-backed Hezbollah hints of retaliation against Israel
Daily TribuneIran-backed Hezbollah hints of retaliation against Israel
This handout picture released by the Israeli army on January 3, 2024 shows Israeli soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Israeli Army / AFP)
Israel's army is on a high state of readiness as it expects retaliation following the killing of Hamas terrorist group's deputy leader and two of its commanders in an explosion in Lebanon on Tuesday.
Israel's government has not claimed responsibility for the Beirut blast that killed Saleh al-Arouri and the Hamas commanders, according to CNN, but Hamas TV reported Israel had killed Aruri in Lebanon.
Aruri, who lived in exile, is accused by Israel of masterminding numerous attacks.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, has told the BBC his government have appealed to Hamas ally Hezbollah not to retaliate as the latest development threatens to expand the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas into a regional conflict.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah vowed the killing of Aruri would not go unpunished, calling it "a serious assault on Lebanon… and a dangerous development."
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the killing and said it "aims to draw Lebanon" further into the war.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said that a movement "whose leaders fall as martyrs for the dignity of our people and our nation will never be defeated."
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the terrorist group attacked Israel on 7 October killing 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse tally based on official Israeli figures.
Hamas terrorists also took around 250 hostages back to Gaza, of whom 129 remain in captivity, according to Israeli figures.
After the attack, the worst in its history, Israel began a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that has killed at least 22,185 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.
In the occupied West Bank, where the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported multiple Israeli operations overnight, AFPTV images showed scores of people in the streets of Ramallah to protest at Aruri's killing.
Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also condemned the killing, and warned about the "risks and consequences that could follow," his office said.
