Top Hamas Leader Killed in Suspected Israeli Strike in Beirut

A top Hamas leader was killed Tuesday by a suspected Israeli strike in Beirut, according to two Lebanese security officials, raising the specter of further escalation in Israel’s war against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

The blast killed Saleh al-Arouri, a founder of the Hamas military wing and one of its top political leaders, and at least three other people, the officials said. Hamas confirmed Arouri’s death in a statement. The Israeli military declined to comment on the explosion.

Israel’s leaders have vowed to go after all Hamas leaders around the world involved in the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that it said killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and Tuesday’s attack appeared to be the first deadly result of the campaign outside the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s Army Radio attributed the strike to Israel, and Danny Danon, an Israeli lawmaker who served as the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, praised his military and spy agency for carrying out the attack.