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Israel’s Assassinations in Beirut: From Bullets, Bombs to Aircraft

Lebanese civil defense personnel stand in front of the building targeted by a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri (AP)
Lebanese civil defense personnel stand in front of the building targeted by a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri (AP)
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Israel’s Assassinations in Beirut: From Bullets, Bombs to Aircraft

Lebanese civil defense personnel stand in front of the building targeted by a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri (AP)
Lebanese civil defense personnel stand in front of the building targeted by a drone strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri (AP)

Israel’s history of assassinating Palestinian leaders in Beirut dates back to the 1970s when some sought refuge in the Lebanese capital.

Over the years, the methods employed in these operations have evolved from gunfire and bombings to the use of aircraft and drones, as suspected, in the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri on Tuesday evening.

The first targeted assassination by Israel in Lebanon was that of the Palestinian novelist and politician Ghassan Kanafani.

He was a member of the political bureau and the official spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The operation took place on July 8, 1972, in Beirut, involving a bomb planted in Kanafani’s car that led to his death.

Approximately a year after Kanafani, “Operation Fardan” was executed in 1973 as a response to the actions carried out by armed Palestinian organizations, including the hijacking of planes to demand the release of prisoners in Israeli jails.

Additionally, it was in response to the Palestinian Black September group kidnapping 11 Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972. The incident ended in the death of both the kidnappers and hostages.

Subsequently, Israel decided to escalate its assassination efforts by targeting Palestinian leaders, specifically the leaders of the Black September group.

On April 10, 1973, Israel carried out an assassination operation in Beirut, led by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, targeting three Palestinian leaders: Kamal Nasser, Kamal Adwan, and Mohammed Yusuf al-Najjar.

An Israeli military commando unit infiltrated Beirut by sea, successfully detonating a building belonging to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

This operation had political repercussions in Lebanon, leading the then Prime Minister, Saeb Salam, to resign amid accusations of failing to protect Palestinians.

As part of this series of assassinations, Israel executed an operation in Beirut in January 1979, targeting Ali Hassan Salameh, a leader in the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Black September group, known as the “Red Prince.”

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.