Multiple Lebanese source report that Saleh al-Arouri has been liquidated in an explosion from the air that destroyed his vehicle in a southern Beirut suburb. He was a senior leader of Hamas and a founding commander of its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, reportedly #2 in the Hamas international pecking order and deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, the billionnaire who operates from Qatar.

The strike from an unmanned drone at a time when the Israeli Air Force was reported in the air over the Lebanese capital. The strike was in the area of Hezbollah offices in the Beirut suburb. It is reported that the Hamas leader is a frequent presence there.

As of 2023, he is also said to be the deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, and Hamas’s military commander in Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”). Al-Arouri was imprisoned in Israel for year, blamed for orchestrating terror attacks, but released in 2010 but forbidden from returning to Gaza, possibly due to his reported role in the Gilad Shalit release deal.

There are unconfirmed reports that in addition to al-Arouri, there was another senior Hamas fatality in the attack. In addition to al-Arouri, at least 5 other Hamas men were taken out.

Breaking news

Lebanon
An explosion hits the southern neighborhood of Beirut.

Senior Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri has been assassinated in explosion pic.twitter.com/XsA6zFkjy4

— Angelo Giuliano (@angeloinchina) January 2, 2024

Salah al-Arouri, RIH.

Israel has yet to take credit for the assassination. But al-Arouri is seen below (far left) celebrating and praying after the October 7 massacres behind his billionnaire boss, Ismail Haniyeh, who may be sweating a bit more this evening.

October 7th: Hamas deputy leader Saleh Al-Arouri (on the left, next to the flag) thanks Allah for Hamas' rape, beheading, mutilating, lynching, and burning of 1,200 Israeli civilians, and kidnapping of hundreds 👇

Today he was eliminated in Beirut 🎯 pic.twitter.com/J094gD8JnO

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) January 2, 2024