The Israeli army is on high alert after a strike in Beirut killed Hamas’s deputy chief, Saleh Al-Aruri, and his bodyguards. The strike has raised concerns that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could escalate into a wider regional conflict. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas following their October 7 attacks, and this strike marks the first attack on the Lebanese capital since the hostilities began.
Hamas has stated that Al-Aruri’s death will not lead to their defeat, while their ally Hezbollah in Lebanon has vowed to avenge the killing. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the killing, stating that it aims to draw Lebanon further into the war. Al-Aruri, who lived in exile, is accused by Israel of masterminding numerous attacks.
The October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, mostly civilians. Militants also took around 250 hostages back to Gaza, with 129 still in captivity. In response, Israel launched a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that has claimed the lives of at least 22,185 people, mostly women and children.
The Israeli army reported that they had killed “dozens of terrorists” in fighting on Tuesday and raided a weapons storage compound in the city of Khan Yunis. Palestinians rushed to rescue victims and retrieve bodies from the rubble in the aftermath of a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The strikes continued overnight, resulting in numerous deaths.
The United Nations agencies have expressed alarm over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with 2.4 million people under siege and displaced, crowded into shelters and tents during winter rains. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the risk of famine and disease, as only a minimal amount of aid is entering Gaza. The UK announced that a British ship had delivered 87 tons of aid to Egypt from Cyprus, the first shipment via a new maritime corridor.
In the occupied West Bank, multiple Israeli operations were reported overnight, leading to protests in Ramallah. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned the killing and warned about the potential risks and consequences that could follow.
The Israeli strikes in neighboring countries on groups supporting Hamas have raised fears of a wider conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to avoid any escalatory attitude, particularly in Lebanon, during a call with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz. Last month, a strike inside Syria blamed on Israel killed a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have also launched attacks at Israel and against cargo ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Hamas.
The US military has assembled a multinational task force to protect the vital shipping lane in the Red Sea after the Houthis fired two missiles towards merchant ships. The Security Council, including France and the United States as permanent members, will discuss the Houthi attacks in a meeting on Wednesday.
The situation in the region remains tense as Israel prepares for any scenario. The death of Hamas’s deputy chief and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas have heightened concerns of a wider regional conflagration. The international community continues to call for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further loss of life and humanitarian suffering.