Lebanon’s Hezbollah group has warned that Israel’s killing of the deputy Hamas leader in a Beirut suburb they control “will not go unanswered or unpunished”. The group called it “a serious assault on Lebanon”, AFP reports.

“We, Hezbollah, affirm that this crime will not go unanswered or unpunished,” the movement said in a statement that called it “a serious assault on Lebanon… and a dangerous development in the course of the war,” the statement added.

An Israeli strike killed Saleh al-Aruri, deputy head of the Hamas movement, in a southern Beirut stronghold of Hamas ally Hezbollah, two security officials told AFP.

Hamas, battling with Israel in the Gaza Strip for almost three months, later confirmed Aruri’s death which Lebanese state media said came in an Israeli drone strike that killed a total of six people.

Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily cross-border clashes with Israel since Israel’s war with Hamas began in October. The group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah is set to give a televised speech today.

 Smoke rises following a strike by Israeli military fighter jets on what it says are Hezbollah targets in a location given as Yaroun, Lebanon in this screengrab taken from a video released on Jan 2, 2024. — Israeli forces via Reuters
Smoke rises following a strike by Israeli military fighter jets on what it says are Hezbollah targets in a location given as Yaroun, Lebanon in this screengrab taken from a video released on Jan 2, 2024. — Israeli forces via Reuters

Opinion

Accessing the RSF

Accessing the RSF

RSF can help catalyse private sector inves­tment encouraging investment flows, build upon institutional partnerships with MDBs, other financial institutions.

Editorial

Madressah oversight
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Madressah oversight

Bill should be reconsidered and Directorate General of Religious Education, formed to oversee seminaries, should not be rolled back.
Kurram’s misery
19 Dec, 2024

Kurram’s misery

THE unfolding humanitarian crisis in Kurram district, particularly in Parachinar city, has reached alarming...
Hiking gas rates
19 Dec, 2024

Hiking gas rates

IMPLEMENTATION of a new Ogra recommendation to increase the gas prices by an average 8.7pc or Rs142.45 per mmBtu in...
Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...