Without a single civilian casualty, the seven killed in what was assumed to be Israel’s precise drone strike in Beirut on Tuesday were all Hamas operatives and leaders. These seven criminals were, according to The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Mahmoud Zaki Shahin, Muhammad Bshasha, Muhammad al-Rees, Ahmed Hamoud, Azzam Hasni al-Aqra – a commander in Hamas’ military wing from the village of Qublan in the Nablus district, Samir Fendi, a commander in Hamas’ military wing and in charge of its activities in Lebanon, and Sheikh Saleh al-‘Arouri, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau and in charge of the movement in Judea and Samaria.
Who Was the Main Target of This Assassination?
Saleh al-Arouri, also referred to as Salih Muhammad Sulayman al-Aruri and Salih Suleiman, was born in 1966 in the town of Arura, near Ramallah, in Judea and Samaria. During his time at Hebron University studying Sharia Law in 1985, he became part of the Muslim Brotherhood and followed its path of the creation of Hamas in 1987. These formative years of radicalization led to al-Arouri’s co-founding role in the formation of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing.
What Role Did Al-Arouri Play in Recent Hamas History?
Al-Arouri was the leader of Hamas military operations in Judea and Samaria, a member of Hamas’s Politburo, and the deputy chairman of Hamas. This means he was the number two person in Hamas, under only Ismail Haniyeh.
In 2014, al-Arouri claimed Hamas’s responsibility for the kidnapping of three teenage boys from the Gush Etzion Junction in Judea. These young boys, Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Frenkel, were found weeks later murdered near Hebron.
Later, in September of 2015, The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated al-Arouri as a specially designated global terrorist and in 2018 the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program put a five million dollar bounty on al-Arouri’s head.
In the summer of 2023, al-Arouri played a hand in the formation of the Al-Ayash Battalion, whose purpose is to bring the same terror that seeps within every crevice of the Gaza Strip into Judea and Samaria. This group was responsible for the rockets that were launched from the Jenin area in Samaria in 2023 and later a manufacturing location was found by the IDF.
Some have theorized that al-Arouri may have been linked to Hamas’s October 7th attack against Israel. A few weeks after the attack, the IDF destroyed al-Arouri’s house in Arura, but he was not living there at the time. According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, al-Arouri was deported from Israel to Syria in 2010, then after three years he moved to Turkey, and later he moved to Lebanon.
What Does This Mean For Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, and the Surrounding Region?
It takes little imagination to recognize the critical hit that Hamas just received. The death of the second in command, who was leader of Hamas’ military in Judea and Samaria and a main connector of Hamas’ relations with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran, and with Fatah (closely connected with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority) is an irreparable loss to the terrorist group and their operations.
The question is how will this hit be received? Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Secretary General was already scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday, January 3 at 18:00 (UTC +2), the fourth anniversary of the death of top commanders General Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. However the events that took place the night prior caused the speech to take a different direction. In one statement Nasrallah made this declaration:
“Until now, we are fighting on the [Israel-Lebanon] front with set calculations, but if the enemy [Israel] wages war on Lebanon, our fight will be without limits, rules and regulations, and it [Israel] knows what I mean.” He also expressed intent to share further details of his plans of responding to this new development of the war in an additional speech on Friday.
Hezbollah senior official, Hussein Yazbek, was killed along with three other members of Hezbollah Wednesday night in the city of Naqoura. The intentional strikes on the terrorist groups’ highly regarded operatives shows Israel’s acute intent to protect its citizens and dismantling Hamas by every means necessary. Eradicating al-Arouri in Beirut and neutralizing these Hezbollah officials may be taken as a sign that Israel is not afraid to engage with Hezbollah.
With Lebanon having a heightened intention of brutality against Israel and Israel showing no signs of a fearful recession, things could escalate even more in the near future. As the U.S. sends airstrikes on Baghdad and attempts to keep the Houthis at bay, Israel seems to be facing an increased number of enemies. If Hezbollah were to declare war on Israel, it could be an easy foresight that Iran may quickly align themselves with their two allies: Hamas and Hezbollah.
If there were to be that many fronts against Israel, from an earthly view, the outcome could appear to be hopelessly bleak. However, if Israel had ever fought battles by solely earthly means, there very well may have not been a state of Israel today. Israel has faced many battles where there have been no earthly reason that Israel should have come out the victor, yet they have won time and time again. When every odd appears to be against Israel, that is when the God who goes before and fights for Israel makes Himself known in a mighty way. Israel has gained a significant victory by eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah officials and one can be certain that this will not be their last victory in this war.
May the God of Israel always go before them, behind them and beside them as their enemies try to destroy them. He is a God who loves Israel the land and Israel the people!
Jehovah, there’s no God like Jehovah! There’s no God like Jehovah!! God will make the crooked way straight. They will prevail and God give each one the strength of Sampson and the wisdom of Solomon!! God loves his people and I love Israel and the Bible says “when Satan comes in like a flood the spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him “…and it’s happening right now and he will continue too!!
May the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob guide HIS people and protect them in this war.
The G-d of Israel is eternal and never changes His Word. He is preparing His bride and Israel is forever linked to His promises.
Almighty Elohim protect Your sons and daughters. Move through them with precision and accuracy that astounds every one. Protect the people who are waiting in the land of Israel for both end of this war AND the return of Messiah.
Help us to repent for the ways we have dishonored You and turn back to You. For it is with aligning with You and You leading this war that Israel wlll win. Ontinue to unite us together to fight this battle against those who hate You, Your land, and Your people. Help us to be strong and courageous!!! Am Israel Chai!!!!
Too true, surely God`s people and born with a superior intelligence, when a Jew, sets is mind accomplishing something he simply becomes the best. more than 279 Jews have won the Noble prise, I guess that says it all, they have contributed more to the world in every sphere, be it arts, music, doctors, scientists, playwrights, actors and actresses, directors, innovators, financiers, bankers, (the Vatican Bankers are the Rothchilds) sportsman and women, some of the greatest boxers were Jewish. The strongest man who lived was Samson, the cleverest man/ruler was Solomon and arguably the bravest man ever was David. Percentage wise they are incomparable – say no more.
AM YISRAEL CHAI ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
ISIS took credit for the assassinations at the Wed funeral. But here and elsewhere it is worded assuming Israel and/or the US did it. Iran is damning Israel/US although ISIS claims it. Im confused. Help me understand.
Good riddance! But where can they get the 504 (72 x 7) virgins? On the other hand, they surely have enough ugly women, or use goats if need be.
Did you expect anything but lies come out of the pieholes of the iranian mullahs?
It is so heartening to observe the current mobilisation and unity of the people of Israel, yet it is of great concern to witness the Military Brass, not the rank and file, but the Brass within the IDF pushing more than ever a two state solution from the day after onwards. When Joshua of old did not drive out ALL the enemies in the land of promise, God declared it a grave fault and due to the disobedience in allowing the enemy a foot in the land given to Jacob,, Isaac and Abraham, the enemy would remain a deadly thorn in their side, as with today … The IDF Brass are too politically partial to the principle of appeasement and a two state solution, and much of what they release to the media is contrary to Israel’s interests.
A few days ago the IDF Brass had the audacity to claim immunity from Political approval in their decision to appoint the heretical architect of the Gaza partition in their plans for the day after. Every think tank serving the upper echelons of the IDF Brass over the past decades has sought to cement a two state solution fearing a drop in support from the USA and hating the religious right to the point of resorting to hook and crook media propaganda in order to slur the very promise given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Smotrich and Ben Gvir have suggested the only real solution which reverses in part ( Westbank, Golan, Jordan to Mt Nebo etc must eventually follow also) the military disobedience and failure under Joshua of old… internationally we hear only media leaks from obviously military brass quarters, that promote appeasement and a two state solution, which is impossible and untenable… Bibi recently raised concerns regarding political leaks from cabinet… A tree is known by its fruits, and only the military brass have something to gain in negating Smotrich and Ben Gvir, to the point of perpetuating cabinet leaks…. SELAH…..
God Bless you Peter: New to this wonderful group, today is my first post, and will begin it with firsthand witness to the downfall of our once United States of America, for which it once stood, One Nation Under God. I say this given, the Evil Deep-State Trojan-Horse now running our Country since January 6, 2021, renders I step out of its brokenness, travel to Israel and volunteer to help God’s Chosen, our Faithful Brothers and Sisters in need. And make no mistake, the CCP-Sponsored Clinton-Obama-Biden-Kerry Trojan-Horse, now upon US All, was the very gateway of public weakness displayed by 2021 that led to and incited the 10.7.2023 Hamas Attack on Israel. Not do discount all the other Global Wars the Trojan-Horse has clearly incited.
That, as a 33-year career private investigator and former government contractor for law enforcement, my occasional National Security level FBI-Referrals over those 3-decades were all eventually shut down by Clinton-Obama-Biden-Kerry Leadership and James Comey by 6.1.2015. This, just 2 days prior to my suspicious near death in Southern California. Vetted, Authenticated Cases, including a 2009-2010 Southern California-based Assassination Plot on Israeli PM Ben Netanyahu, and Obama’s 4.12015-6.1.2015 Iran Nuclear Deal (we had and still have proof that Iran’s IRG and Soleimani were already buying up U-235 Packages on the Middle East Black Market, enough to build a bomb). So, to target Israel and the US.
That, if in late 2009-2010, FBI-CT Squad would not have been told to stand down by the Obama-Biden Admin, after initially securing PM Netanyahu in early 2010, those decent FBI Agents initially assigned to our Referral would have been able to detain and question the Terror Logistics Suspect who was planning, orchestrating, and fundraising it all, including future attacks on Israel. But instead, that suspect walked, until German Intelligence Court-Ordered a Warrant and Extradition Order for the Suspect’s arrest by late 2021. The suspect was given free-reign, an Obama-Biden Quiet Pass to continue his Evil Deeds against the Nation of Israel. Thank God German Intelligence was on to him by 2018. But it was too late, as our own U.S. FBI Leadership apparently dropped the ball on that case so to appease JOETUS Biden’s favor-return to former President Barak Obama by re-instating the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2021 – that would clearly resume the targeting and destruction of Israel, and of US. No problem in Iran destroying US, as JOETUS Biden has nearly finished US off on his own, as the Head of the CCP-Sponsored Deep-State Trojan-Horse he too rode up on.
So, in Church-Mass on this past Sunday, Father rendered the Homily as “Come All Ye Faithful, …., Come to Bethlehem.” and The Holy Spirit came upon me, unlike anything I have ever experienced in my entire life. Thus, calling upon me to leave all my possessions behind, to go to Israel and Volunteer, where my life experience and work-ethic is needed the most. That, the 2021 over-throw of our US Government no-longer allows me or my Faith to contribute here. Therefore, I would like to be a small part of helping rebuild God’s House First. Then we can start rebuilding our own.
Amen