The recent death of Hamas leader Saleh Arouri in Beirut has sparked speculation about Israel’s involvement and raised concerns about the future of both Israel and Hamas. While the U.S. has not yet confirmed Arouri’s death, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described him as a “brutal terrorist with civilian blood on his hands.” However, Miller did not comment on whether Israel was right to kill Arouri amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Arouri, who remained high on the Rewards for Justice program’s wanted list with a $5 million bounty, was a founding commander of Hamas’ military wing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to kill Arouri since before the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that sparked the current conflict. The U.S. had marked Arouri as a “specially designated global terrorist” and offered a reward for information on him.
While both the U.S. and Israel have not officially confirmed their involvement in Arouri’s death, Richard Goldberg from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies believes that it would be a positive development for the United States. Goldberg argues that targeted strikes like this help Israel restore its deterrence in the region. He also suggests that the U.S. should focus on cracking down on Hamas networks within the country, including its financial and political supporters.
The lack of confirmation or accreditation from either the U.S. or Israel is likely an attempt to prevent further escalation of the conflict. Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, believes that the U.S. has been working to contain the current conflict and prevent it from spreading into Lebanon. However, if Israel is indeed responsible for the strike, it could indicate a willingness to take greater risks in eliminating top Hamas leadership.
There are concerns that the death of Arouri could lead to a harsh response from Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group closely aligned with Hamas. Schanzer suggests that Hezbollah may see the strike in Beirut as a hostile act and retaliate against Israel, potentially escalating the conflict further. The United States would be particularly concerned about any spillover of the Gaza war onto Israel’s northern border.
Overall, the death of Hamas leader Saleh Arouri in Beirut has raised questions about Israel’s involvement and the future of both Israel and Hamas. While the U.S. has not yet confirmed the death, experts believe that targeted strikes like this help Israel restore its deterrence. However, there are concerns about potential retaliation from Hezbollah and the possibility of the conflict spreading into Lebanon. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
