On Wednesday, Israel conducted fresh airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army, on high alert for potential attacks by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, took action after a drone strike in Beirut resulted in the death of a senior Hamas official, Saleh al-Arouri.
Hamas and regional security officials attribute the killing of Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone. In response, Hezbollah, also backed by Iran and designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has been firing rockets across Israel’s northern border since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday afternoon.
Al-Arouri held a senior position in Hamas’ politburo and played a key role in founding its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, which carried out a significant incursion into Israeli territory on October 7. Last year, the United States included Al-Arouri in its Rewards for Justice program, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.