Saeed Atallah Ali, a high-ranking commander of Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. The attack also claimed the lives of three of Ali’s family members, according to reports from Hamas media. “The Hamas movement mourns the leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, Saeed Atallah Ali, and three of his family members as a result of the bombing of his home in the Palestinian refugee camp,” the group stated.
Airstrikes Across Lebanon
The airstrike on Ali is part of a broader Israeli military offensive targeting Hezbollah and Hamas positions in Lebanon. Over 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes so far, raising fears that the conflict could escalate into a full-blown regional war. In addition to aerial attacks, Israel has begun ground incursions into Lebanon aimed at dismantling Hezbollah settlements, further intensifying the situation.
High-Profile Assassinations By Israel
The conflict has seen Israel intensify its targeted assassinations of key militant leaders. Recently, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-standing chief of Hezbollah. Reports also suggest that Israel targeted a secret bunker where Nasrallah’s likely successor, Hashem Safieddine, was meeting with other Hezbollah officials. These operations come after the July killing of Mohammed Deif, the Hamas mastermind behind the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Iran’s Retaliation Raises Tensions
Following the death of Nasrallah, Iran responded by launching nearly 200 missiles at Israel, further stoking fears of a wider conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, justified the missile attacks in his first Friday sermon in five years, calling them “legal and legitimate” and predicting that Israel’s existence “would not last long.”
Israel Strikes Hezbollah’s Intelligence Hub In Beirut
Earlier, Israeli forces carried out a significant attack on Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters located in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold. The operation marked a notable escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the militant group. Israel launched a series of 11 airstrikes on October 3, targeting areas south of Beirut, intensifying the conflict and signaling a sharp uptick in military action against Hezbollah.
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