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Israel Celebrates Al-Arouri’s Assassination Without Claiming Official Responsibility

A recent meeting between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’ Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon (Social media)
A recent meeting between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’ Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon (Social media)
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Israel Celebrates Al-Arouri’s Assassination Without Claiming Official Responsibility

A recent meeting between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’ Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon (Social media)
A recent meeting between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’ Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon (Social media)

Israel celebrated the assassination of the Deputy Chief of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, but did not officially claim responsibility for the operation that killed the Hamas leader in a drone attack in Beirut, Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also instructed Israeli ministers not to comment on the killing of al-Arouri, while attention turned to Hezbollah’s stance as the assassination took place on its territory and within its security zone.

Netanyahu's foreign affairs spokesperson, Mark Regev, declared Tuesday that the slaying of al-Arouri was not an attack against Lebanon or Hezbollah.

“Obviously, in Lebanon, there are many Hezbollah targets, but whoever did this strike was very surgical and went for a Hamas target because Israel is at war... Whoever did this has a gripe with Hamas,” Regev said during a media interview.

As the focus shifts to a previously scheduled speech by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday evening, Israeli media hinted at the “success” of the killing operation

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Israeli officials as stating that the “assassination of al-Arouri is a qualitative and high-quality operation.”

According to Israel’s Channel 13, al-Arouri was scheduled to meet with Nasrallah on Wednesday.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed the view that “the fate of all enemies of Israel is destruction.”

Member of the Knesset for the Likud party, headed by Netanyahu, Danny Danon, congratulated the Israeli security forces on the assassination of al-Arouri, describing the operation as “successful.”

Israeli media reports that the Israeli government issued orders to its ministers, prohibiting them from giving interviews regarding the assassination.

In August 2023, Netanyahu threatened to assassinate al-Arouri.

Al-Arouri was accused of orchestrating a series of attacks carried out by Hamas in the West Bank in recent weeks and months.

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Arab World

Iraq Makes First Official Contact with New Syrian Administration

Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) head Hamid Al-Shatri on the day of their meeting in Damascus, Syria December 26, 2024. (Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham/Handout via Reuters)
Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) head Hamid Al-Shatri on the day of their meeting in Damascus, Syria December 26, 2024. (Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham/Handout via Reuters)
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Iraq Makes First Official Contact with New Syrian Administration

Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) head Hamid Al-Shatri on the day of their meeting in Damascus, Syria December 26, 2024. (Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham/Handout via Reuters)
Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa shakes hands with Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) head Hamid Al-Shatri on the day of their meeting in Damascus, Syria December 26, 2024. (Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham/Handout via Reuters)

Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received in Damascus on Thursday Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) Head Hamid Al-Shatri, who was on his first foreign visit since assuming his post less than a week ago.

They discussed developments in Syria and the need for security and stability along their shared 600 km border, Iraq's state news agency reported.

Iraqi observers underscored the importance of the visit given the common files shared between the two neighbors, as well as mainly Iraqi Shiite political concerns over the sudden change in Syria.

The Baghdad government had stressed after the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month the need to respect the “free will” of the Syrian people.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said his country “is not opposed to communicating with the new administration in Syria as long as it sought Syria and the region’s stability.”

A member of the Iraqi delegation visiting Damascus on Thursday said officials stressed to Syrian authorities the need to be wary of armed groups that may exploit the security vacuum to launch attacks against Iraq and other regions, reported AFP.

“Iraq is seeking assurances from Syria about border issues and security inside Syria itself,” he added, while emphasizing the need for all parties to refrain from meddling in Syria’s internal affairs.

A “senior source” in Baghdad said the Syrian administration expressed its understanding of Iraq’s concerns, reported Iraq’s state news agency (INA).

Discussions tackled ensuring security at jails that are holding ISIS detainees, it revealed. Officials also tackled cooperation that would prevent the resurgence of ISIS, as well as demands related to protecting minorities and religious shrines.

Sudani had last week called on the new authorities in Damascus to provide assurances about its political process that “would not exclude any party.”

Iraqi former PM Haidar al-Malla told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iraqi delegation’s visit “is a step in the right direction.”

He underlined the importance of holding direct dialogue with the new Syrian leadership, adding that Shatri was the best choice for heading the delegation given his political and security roles.

“Syria is at the heart of the world and it is an important country in the region. We share borders stretching more than 600 kms, so Iraq and Syria’s security are indivisible,” he remarked.

Iraq had notably sentenced Sharaa to death - when he was known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani – on charges of “terrorism and killing Iraqis” when he was a member of ISIS. He defected soon after and formed the al-Nusra Front in Syria that would later become the HTS.

On the sentence, legal expert Ali al-Tamimi said it will continue to stand until it is annulled by the judiciary.

The sentence has no impact at the moment because Iraq is now dealing with the policy of an entire state, not just members of armed groups, he explained.