Hamas leader killed in Beirut drone strike, sparking fears of regional conflict

The death of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official, in a drone strike in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, has raised fears of a worsening conflict in the Middle East.

The state media, NNA, reported that the blast on Tuesday targeted a Hamas office and killed three people.

NNA also said that two other Hamas leaders died in the attack and several others were wounded.

Arouri was a founding member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and was based in Beirut.

Israel has not admitted to carrying out the attack, but there are worries that the incident could damage the already strained ties with Lebanon and expand the war with Hamas to other parts of the region.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, accused Israel of being behind the attack and expressed sympathy to Hamas.

Hezbollah is a close ally of both Iran and Hamas, and has the strongest military force in Lebanon.

The group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Arab League, the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union.

Najib Mikati, the prime minister of Lebanon, denounced the attack and said the “explosion is a new Israeli crime” intended to drag Lebanon into a new stage of conflict.

As the tensions rise, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warned that further escalation could have “devastating consequences”.

“We continue to implore all parties cease their fire, and any interlocutors with influence to urge restraint,” Kandice Ardiel, the deputy spokesperson of UNIFIL, said.

The development comes as Israel says it is entering a new phase of fighting with Hamas, despite increasing calls for a ceasefire.