Assassination of Saleh al-Arouri

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 Gaza 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.{{Cite web |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Tia |last2=Shurafa |first2=Wafaa |date=8 October 2023 |title=Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire as Israeli soldiers battle Hamas on second day of surprise attack |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008051308/https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-ca7903976387cfc1e1011ce9ea805a71 |archive-date=8 October 2023 |access-date=8 October 2023 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=8 October 2023 |title=Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008065933/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/ |archive-date=8 October 2023}} 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.{{Cite web |title="Al-Quds al-Arabi": Hamas leader Salah al-Aruri no longer lives in Turkey |url=http://en.israel-today.ru/al-quds-al-arabi-hamas-leader-salah-al-aruri-no-longer-lives-in-turkey.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=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 |archive-date=13 May 2016 |access-date=28 April 2016 |website=en.israel-today.ru}} In 2015, the United States had placed a $5 million bounty on Saleh al-Arouri and designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.{{Cite web |date=2 January 2024 |title=Israeli drone strike in Lebanon's Beirut kills Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/01/02/Explosion-in-southern-Beirut-suburb-sources-say- |website=Al Arabiya English |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=3 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103203024/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/01/02/Explosion-in-southern-Beirut-suburb-sources-say- |url-status=live }}

Allied groups of Hamas specifically warned the group against using the office after they suspected that its location had become exposed to Israeli intelligence.{{Cite web |last=Homsi |first=Nada |date=22 January 2024 |title=Seven phones and a marked-out office: how Israel found and killed a Hamas leader in Beirut |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/2024/01/22/how-israel-found-and-killed-hamas-leader-saleh-al-arouri-in-beirut/ |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=The National |language=en |archive-date=22 January 2024 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }} 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.”

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.{{Cite news |title=فيديو للحظة استهداف صالح العاروري |url=https://www.mtv.com.lb/news/%D9%85%D9%80%D9%80%D8%AD%D9%80%D9%80%D9%84%D9%80%D9%80%D9%8A%D9%80%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%AA/1414945/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=MTV Lebanon |language=ar}} 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.{{Cite news |last1=Boxerman |first1=Aaron |last2=Hubbard |first2=Ben |last3=Bergman |first3=Ronen |last4=Schmitt |first4=Eric |date=2 January 2024 |title=Israel-Hamas War: Blast in Beirut Kills Senior Hamas Leader |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/02/world/israel-supreme-court-gaza-news |access-date=2 January 2024 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102080814/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/02/world/israel-supreme-court-gaza-news |url-status=live }} Early reports said that four Hamas members were killed but increased to six which included a possible civilian.{{Cite web |agency=AFP |title=Lebanese State Media Says Four Killed In Israeli Drone Strike On Hamas Office In Beirut |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/lebanese-state-media-says-four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-hamas-office-in-beirut-c7aa3c79 |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=www.barrons.com |language=en-US |archive-date=3 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/744829/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405232236/https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/744829/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |url-status=live }} 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.

List of those killed that were eventually announced by Hamas.

Saleh al-Arouri was the highest ranking Hamas leader killed since the beginning of the war until the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/world/middleeast/hamas-leader-saleh-al-arouri-killed-ramifications.html | title=Leader's Killing is a Blow, but Not a Knockout, for Hamas | work=The New York Times | date=3 January 2024 | last1=Hubbard | first1=Ben | access-date=4 January 2024 | archive-date=5 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105025334/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/world/middleeast/hamas-leader-saleh-al-arouri-killed-ramifications.html | url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Harb |first=Ali |title=Hezbollah's Nasrallah says 'not afraid of war' after killing of al-Arouri |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=12 April 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} He described the attack as a "major and dangerous crime" that "will not go unanswered and unpunished".{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/nasrallah-threatens-israel-over-arouri-hit-warns-of-war-without-rules-or-limits/ | title=Nasrallah vows response to Arouri, warns of fight 'without limits' if Israel goes to war | website=The Times of Israel }} Hezbollah announced that it carried out nine attacks targeting Israeli positions. 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.{{Cite web |last= |date=4 January 2024 |title=Hezbollah confirms death of four operatives, including a local commander |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/levant-turkey/1704348109-hezbollah-confirms-death-of-four-operatives-including-a-local-commander |access-date=4 January 2024 |website=I24news |language=en}}

• The Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the assassination as a "new Israeli crime" designed at "dragging Lebanon into a new phase of confrontation".{{Cite web |title="توريط للبنان".. ميقاتي يدين انفجار ضاحية بيروت الجنوبية |trans-title="Involving Lebanon"... Mikati condemns the explosion in the southern suburb of Beirut |url=https://www.skynewsarabia.com/middle-east/1682154-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B7-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9 |website=Sky News Arabia |language=ar}}
• The spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry condemned the assassination, asserting that Israel and its supporters would bear responsibility for the consequences of this "new adventure."{{cite news |date=2 January 2024 |title=ایران ترور صالح العاروری را به‌شدت محکوم کرد |trans-title=Iran strongly condemned the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri |url=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 |access-date=2 January 2024 |publisher=mizanonline |language=Persian |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}
• Iran warned the United States that it must prepare to face the consequences for the attack.{{Cite web |date=3 January 2024 |title=נשיא איראן: "ישראל תשלם מחיר כבד על הפיגוע בקבר סולימאני" |trans-title=The President of Iran: "Israel will pay a heavy price for the attack on Soleimani's tomb" |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/world/Article-1064918 |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=www.maariv.co.il |language=he}}
• Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi stated the assassination was a crime.{{cite web |title=Iran's president: Assassination of al-Arouri is 'a crime' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut?update=2595133 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-date=4 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}
• The Israeli government did not immediately take responsibility for the strike that killed al-Arouri. Mark Regev, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister, said in an interview that Israel "has not taken responsibility for this attack. But whoever did it, it must be clear – this was not an attack on the Lebanese state ... Whoever did this did a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership".{{Cite web |title=Israeli drone kills Hamas deputy leader in Beirut -Lebanese, Palestinian sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-aircraft-tanks-step-up-strikes-it-plans-reduce-troops-2024-01-02/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=Reuters |language=en}}
• MK Danny Danon posted on social media, writing, "I congratulate the IDF, Shin Bet, the Mossad and the security forces for killing senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut."{{cite web |title=Israeli lawmaker congratulates military, secret services for assassination |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beiruthttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beiruthttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beiruthttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut?update=2595209 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-date=22 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}
• French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to "avoid any escalatory attitude, particularly in Lebanon" in a call with Israel's war cabinet member Benny Gantz.{{Cite web |title=Strike on Hamas leader in Lebanon sends tension spiking across Middle East |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/3/assassination-of-hamas-leader-in-lebanon-raises-concern-of-escalation |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103122304/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/3/assassination-of-hamas-leader-in-lebanon-raises-concern-of-escalation |url-status=live }}

• After the attack, UN spokeswoman Florencia Soto Nino said that "The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and take urgent steps to deescalate tensions in the region".{{Cite web |title=UN chief urged maximum restraint following assassination of Hamas deputy chief in Lebanon |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-chief-urged-maximum-restraint-following-assassination-of-hamas-deputy-chief-in-lebanon/3098629 |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=www.aa.com.tr |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}
• Hamas member Izzat al-Risheq stated that al-Arouri was killed in a "cowardly assassination" by Israel, and added that "It proves once again the abject failure of this enemy to achieve any of its aggressive goals in the Gaza Strip".{{Cite web |title=Hamas blames Israel for 'cowardly assassination' of deputy leader Saleh al Arouri |url=https://news.sky.com/story/hamas-deputy-head-saleh-arouri-killed-in-an-explosion-south-of-beirut-according-to-hezbollah-tv-13041022 |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en}}
• The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ziad al-Nakhalah mourned Arouri, calling him a leader who contributed to the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.{{Cite web |title=IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 3, 2024 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-3-2024 |access-date=5 January 2024 |archive-date=8 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108182443/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-3-2024 |url-status=live }}
• The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces commemorated Arouri's death and called for "revolutionary action" in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the rest of Israel.
• Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada General Secretariat compared Israel's killing of Arouri to the US killing of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and claimed that the attack "violated Lebanese sovereignty".
• The Chairman of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Falih Al-Fayyadh warned that the "murderous criminals" who killed Arouri will pay for their actions.
• In an official statement, the Islamic Group condemned the attack and stressed "that the assassination will not go unpunished".{{Cite web |title=الجماعة الاسلامية |url=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 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=www.al-jamaa.org |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}

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.{{Cite web |last=Guldogan |first=Diyar |date=3 January 2024 |title=Protests held in Palestine, Lebanon after killing of Hamas deputy chief |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/protests-held-in-palestine-lebanon-after-killing-of-hamas-deputy-chief/3098746 |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=www.aa.com.tr |archive-date=3 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }} This included protests in the city of Ramallah, near Arouri's hometown, where demonstrators chanted: "We will follow your footsteps", and "revenge, revenge, Qassam!"

• Killing of Ahmed Yassin
• Assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi
• Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh
• Assassination of Hassan Nasrallah
• Hamas in Lebanon
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701
• List of assassinations in Lebanon

{{reflist}}

{{Gaza war}}

{{Israeli targeted killings}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:al-Arouri, Saleh}}

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