Israeli drone attacks Hamas office in Beirut, killing seven: NNA

BEIRUT — An Israeli drone struck a Hamas office in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut on Tuesday, killing seven people, Lebanon's state news agency reported.

Hamas TV says Israel has killed group's deputy head in Beirut, Saleh al-Arouri, and two leaders within al-Qassam Brigades, Samir Fendi and Azzam al-Aqraa. Four other people were killed in the explosions, but have not been confirmed as associated with a particular group. Their names, according to statements from Hezbollah and Hamas, are Ahmed Hammoud, Mahmoud Shahin, Mohammed Bsharat, and Mohammed al-Reis. At least 11 other people were injured and taken to a local hospital.

The Manar television station associated with Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group which has a stronghold in the area, said an explosion was heard near the Hadi Nasrallah highway close to a road junction in the area of Msharafieh, a southern suburb of Beirut.

It gave no details of the explosion, which comes a day before a speech by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

A Reuters witness said the explosion may have been caused by a drone that hit the third floor of a building in the crowded neighborhood. Reporters from L'Orient Today also spoke with witnesses on the scene, who described two explosions attributed to an Israeli drone attack, one which hit the building where a meeting between Palestinian factions was reportedly underway, and another which struck a car parked outside.

Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian group Hamas, has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern frontier since the eruption of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza in early October.

Israeli air strikes and shelling have killed more than 100 Hezbollah fighters and nearly two dozen civilians, including children, elderly and several journalists, according to Hezbollah and security sources.