by Brian Shilhavy, Health Impact News:
World War 3 continued to escalate today, as Israeli forces bombed a Beirut suburb in Lebanon, killing two commanders of the Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades, as well as its deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri.
Two Commanders of Hamas’ Military Wing Killed in Beirut Blast as Gaza Conflict Escalates
A suspected drone strike by Israel at the Hamas political office in Beirut killed two commanders of Al-Qassam Brigades, which is the Palestinian group’s military wing, state Lebanese media cited Hamas as saying Tuesday.
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Hamas also confirmed the assassination of its deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in the blast that targeted its office in a southern Beirut suburb, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
Six people died in the explosion. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned al-Arouri’s killing as an “Israeli crime” that he said aimed to draw Lebanon deeper into the Palestine-Israel conflict.A Sputnik correspondent has reported that in response to the blast, Lebanon has stepped up its military presence outside the Hamas office in Beirut after what is believed to be an Israeli drone strike.
The Lebanese army pulled military equipment and additional forces to the site in Al-Mcharafieh neighborhood, on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital. Ambulances and firefighting crews were also deployed.
In response to the deadly blast, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has threatened to retaliate against Israel, writing in a statement that the “crime will not go unanswered or unpunished.”
Israeli media has reported that the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enforced a gag order on ministers as Lebanon and Hamas blamed the Jewish state for assassinating the Palestinian group’s deputy leader.The Netanyahu’s office is said to have specifically instructed ministers not to be interviewed or make any references to the assassination as Israeli police were reportedly put on high alert and told to get ready for rocket attacks and infiltration.
Citing US and Israeli officials, American media claimed that Israel did not notify Washington before the strike was conducted, noting Israeli leadership informed the Biden administration about the attack only after the operation had already begun. (Full article.)
Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, representing the Zionist Republicans, cheered the assassination:
“If I were any Hamas leader right now, whether you’re in Turkey, Beirut or elsewhere, I would not sleep well at night,” Waltz told Fox News. “The Israelis will hunt them down.”
Saleh al-Arouri was a designated global terrorist, Hamas deputy political leader, & founding member of Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
His death should ring as a warning to those who terrorize the U.S. or Israel: Your days are numbered. pic.twitter.com/OHwC0WBHZ4
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) January 2, 2024
Apparently the Congressman from Florida is not too well informed on intelligence from Turkey as he clearly displayed his ignorance in this statement, because Turkey has made it very clear that they will NOT allow Israel to “hunt down” Palestinians inside Turkey.
Turkish police in Ankara, Turkey. Image source.
In fact, Turkish police and intelligence officers have just reportedly completed operations earlier today to round up dozens of spies working with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, to prevent such a thing from happening inside Turkey.
34 nabbed over Mossad’s abduction plot in Türkiye
The Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 46 suspects in an investigation into Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s alleged plot targeting foreigners in Türkiye.
Thirty-four suspects were detained on Tuesday, authorities announced. Operations are underway to capture the other suspects. Authorities said operations were held in eight provinces against people suspected of involvement in espionage activities for Israel.
The investigation found that Israeli intelligence was behind activities targeting foreigners residing in Türkiye, from reconnaissance to assaults and abduction attempts. No other details are available regarding the investigation, but Mossad was implicated in the past in investigations about attempts to kidnap Palestinians living in Türkiye.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared a video of operations jointly carried out by police and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). On a social media post, Yerlikaya said an investigation into international espionage activities led to the operations. “We will not allow espionage targeting our national unity,” Yerlikaya said. The minister said authorities discovered more than 143,000 euros ($157,300) and more than $23,000 in the possession of suspects, along with one pistol and a large amount of munitions.
Media outlets reported that the arrests followed an investigation by the counterterrorism office of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on Mossad’s targeting of Palestinians as well as Israeli activists opposing Israel’s aggression targeting Palestinians. The nationalities of the suspects were not disclosed but they were in touch with the Mossad operatives via social media.
Turkish intelligence sources told Anadolu Agency (AA) last month that Israeli intelligence was warned against any attempt to assassinate members of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in Türkiye.
Israel will hunt down Hamas in Lebanon, Türkiye and Qatar even if it takes years, the head of Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, said in a recording aired by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, before the statements of Turkish intelligence sources.
The Turkish sources said such an action would result in serious consequences.
The officials mentioned that various foreign intelligence services had previously tried to carry out illegal activities on Turkish territory but without success, stressing that no foreign intelligence service would be allowed to carry out such operations on the soil of the Republic of Türkiye. (Source.)
It was also reported today that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Ankara this week to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss the war.
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