The aftermath of an Israeli drone attack in Msharafieh in Beirut's Southern Suburbs on Jan. 2, 2024. (Credit: Joao Souza/L'Orient Today)
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Catch up on yesterday’s LIVE coverage of Day 88 of the Israel-Hamas war here.
An Israeli drone strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs killed seven people, including Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri. The attack also killed Samir Fendi and Azzam al-Aqraa, both leaders within al-Qassam Brigades; and Ahmed Hammoud, Mahmoud Shahin, Mohammed Bsharat and Mohammed al-Reis, who have not yet been confirmed as affiliated with a particular group. The attack reportedly happened while a meeting between Palestinian factions was underway in a Hamas office located in the building that was struck.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the explosion as “a new Israeli crime aimed at dragging Lebanon into a new phase of confrontations after the continuous daily attacks in the south.” Mikati requested that Lebanon file an urgent complaint to the United Nations Security Council. The Lebanese Army deployed to the site of the explosion blocked access to the scene, L’Orient Today’s journalist reported.
Demonstrations mourning Arouri took place in Ramallah and the Palestinian refugee camp Burj al-Shamali in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Palestinian factions vowed to retaliate against the assassination, in several statements released following the attack.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to speak tonight with a second address announced for Friday. Israeli attacks continued across southern Lebanon as Hezbollah announced strikes on military targets in northern Israel.
A medical coordination project between the French and Lebanese armies is expected to be made official soon, a source close to France’s Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told AFP yesterday. Over the past two months, France has supplied 15 tons of medical aid including antibiotics and painkillers for the military hospital in Beirut, where soldiers and civilians are treated. France has repeatedly offered support to the Lebanese military and has insisted on the importance of supporting the Lebanese Army and empowering its ability to cooperate with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
At least 22,185 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, the enclave’s health ministry reported. Haaretz reported that Hamas and Israel's demands regarding a new hostage deal were incompatible, notably that Hamas refuses to start negotiations until Israel has withdrawn from combat zones. Israel announced on Monday that it would start pulling troops from Gaza and shift to more “targeted” attacks on Hamas.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Is Israel a Fragile State? Interview with Nassim Nicholas Taleb”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz.
