This past Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on the Beddawi refugee camp in northern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of Hamas commander Saeed Atallah Ali along with his family, as reported by the militant group.
According to Hamas, the raid specifically targeted Ali’s residence, which led to the loss of his wife, Shaimaa Azzam, and their two daughters, classified as minors in the organization’s statement. The camp is located close to Tripoli.
Ali was a prominent leader of the al-Qassam brigades, and Israel has not yet released a comment regarding the incident.
Since the outbreak of conflict with Hamas on October 7—prompted by the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 250—Israel has intensified its strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah officials in Lebanon.
In retaliation, Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza, resulting in a staggering death toll of approximately 41,000 Palestinians, with women and children making up over half, according to local health authorities.
Most recently, Israel escalated its military operations against Hezbollah, initiating a ground assault in Lebanon. The Israeli military has reported nine soldier fatalities in the southern conflict, while Hamas claims at least 18 of its militants have been killed alongside nearly 2,000 civilian casualties.
Last week, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah during an airstrike on his hiding location. Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for decades and opposed Israel’s existence, had previously orchestrated rocket attacks following the conflict’s earlier escalation.
Additionally, a series of explosions that killed other Hezbollah members have been attributed by the group to Israeli actions.
The IDF cited precise intelligence as the basis for its focus on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, embarking on “Operation Northern Arrows,” with an emphasis on ensuring the safety of residents in northern Israel.
In response to the ongoing situation in Lebanon, the U.S. has arranged for the evacuation of approximately 250 American citizens.