On August 9, 2024, Israel carried out a targeted drone strike in Sidon, Lebanon, killing Samer al-Hajj, a senior Hamas security official. The attack took place near the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, where al-Hajj was responsible for security operations. According to the Israeli military, al-Hajj was a ‘senior commander’ involved in planning and executing terror attacks and rocket launches against Israel from Lebanese territory.The drone strike, which targeted al-Hajj’s vehicle, also injured his bodyguard and two civilians who were at a nearby gas station. The attack marks a significant escalation, being the first Israeli drone strike in downtown Sidon since tensions heightened in October 2023.In response to the assassination, hundreds of residents from the Ain al-Hilweh camp, which houses around 80,000 people, began protest marches. Some protesters called for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to retaliate against Israel, specifically mentioning the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.This incident follows a series of recent assassinations, including that of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, in Tehran, and Fuad Shukr, a prominent Hezbollah military leader, in Beirut. These events have significantly increased tensions between Israel and Lebanon, with concerns about potential retaliatory strikes from Hamas or Hezbollah.The ongoing conflict continues to have severe humanitarian consequences. In Gaza, the situation remains catastrophic, with over 90% of the population displaced and facing severe shortages of essential supplies due to the blockade. The international community remains concerned about the escalating violence and its impact on civilian populations in the region.
Key points
- Israel conducted a drone strike in Sidon, Lebanon, killing senior Hamas official Samer al-Hajj.
- The assassination has sparked protests in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp and raised fears of retaliation.
- This incident is part of a series of recent assassinations, including Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, escalating regional tensions.
- The ongoing conflict continues to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that Samer al-Hajj was killed in the drone strike, one source claims that Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Heniyye was assassinated in Tehran last week, which is not corroborated by other sources.
