Israel assassinates senior Hamas leader in Lebanon

One of Hamas's most senior officials, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed yesterday in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut that threatens a significant and dangerous escalation of Israel's war against Hamas.

- Peter Beaumont

Echoing fears of further regional violence, the Lebanese prime minister, Najib Mikati, described the assassination as a "new Israeli crime intended to spur a new phase of conflict, following daily attacks in the south [of Lebanon]".

The audacious attack hit Hamas's office in Musharafieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. The television channel for Lebanon's Hezbollah, the group involved in a related conflict with Israel, said Arouri had been assassinated yesterday evening in an explosion along with five others while attending a meeting.

A Hamas official, Bassem Naim, later confirmed that Arouri had been killed in the blast. The group said two other officials in its armed wing were also killed.

A US defence official quoted in the Washington Post said the Israel Defense Forces were responsible for the strike, adding that an assessment of whether Arouri had been killed was ongoing.

The attack came on a day of intense fighting in central and southern Gaza, a day after Israel had announced its first drawdown of troops from the territory.