At least 2 dead as Israeli strike targets Hamas official near Tripoli

Nahar Net

5 hours ago

An Israeli drone on Tuesday bombed a car in the al-Ayrouniyeh area near Tripoli, the first strike in north Lebanon since last year's war, with the Israeli army saying the strike targeted a key Hamas member.
"A short while ago, the (Israeli military) struck a key Hamas terrorist in the area of Tripoli in Lebanon," the military said in a statement, without providing further details.
Israeli media reports identified the official targeted as Mahran Mustafa Baajour, saying he was the head of planning in Hamas' Lebanon branch.
Media reports said the strike also killed Baajour's bodyguard, who is from the al-Hamwi family, and Omar Zahra, the owner of a shop near the strike's site. Three other people were reportedly wounded.
The Health Ministry meanwhile reported that the strike killed two people and wounded three others.
The strike comes amid ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar and as five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory this year.
Israel has kept up its strikes on Lebanon despite the November truce with Hezbollah, mainly saying it is targeting the Lebanese group's sites and operatives but also occasionally members of their Palestinian ally Hamas.
Hamas claimed attacks on Israel from Lebanon during more than a year of cross-border hostilities initiated by Hezbollah in October 2023 in support of its Palestinian ally.
Israel has struck Hamas operatives in Lebanon, including since the ceasefire.
In May, Hamas said one of its commanders was killed in a strike on the southern city of Sidon as Israel said it targeted "the head of operations in Hamas' Western Brigade in Lebanon."
Israeli strikes on Lebanon's south are common, but raids on the north have been rare.
In October, during Israel's all-out war with Hezbollah, Hamas said one of its operatives along with his wife and two daughters were killed in a strike on their house in the Beddawi Palestinian camp near Tripoli. Israel's military said it targeted "a senior member of Hamas's military wing in Lebanon."
In May, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Beirut for talks on disarming Palestinian refugee camps in the country, as Lebanon seeks to impose its authority across all its territory.
Lebanese leaders who took office in the aftermath of the conflict, which left Hezbollah severely weakened, have vowed a state monopoly on bearing arms, while demanding Israel comply with the November ceasefire.
By longstanding convention, the Lebanese Army stays out of the Palestinian camps -- where Abbass Fatah movement, militant group Hamas and other armed groups are present -- and leaves the factions to handle security.