Drone attack hits Beirut suburb, Lebanon blames Israel
An Israeli drone strike hit the suburbs of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, this Tuesday (2), killing Saleh alArouri, one of the leaders of Hamas, according to the Lebanese government.
Hamas confirmed AlArouri's death. one of the founders of the AlQassam Brigadesthe terrorist group's armed wing and with a strong presence in the Gaza Strip.
Military sources interviewed by Portal news agency stated that it was an attack by Israel. The Israeli government had not commented on the alleged attack as of this report's last update.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also blamed Israel, saying the alleged attack increased tensions in Lebanon's conflicts, which have so far been concentrated in the south of the country, near the border with Israel.
“This new Israeli crime aims to drag Lebanon into a new phase of confrontation with Israel,” the Lebanese leader criticized in a statement. The clashes between the Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, have so far been limited to the border regions in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese government also announced this will take the case to the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
According to the Lebanese state press Five other people died in the explosionwhich took place in Danyeh, a predominantly Shiite Muslim suburb between the center of Beirut and the Lebanese capital's international airport.
1 in 1 building was hit by a drone strike on January 2, 2024 in Daniyeh, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. — Photo: Mohamed Azakir/ Portal Building was hit by a drone strike in Daniyeh, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on January 2, 2024. — Photo: Mohamed Azakir/ Portal
“An Israeli drone targeted a Hamas office in AlMusharrafiya, near AlSharq Sweets, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said.