Hamas Leader in Lebanon Killed in Israeli Airstrike

Hamas announced that Fathi Sharif Abu Al-Amin, the leader of the group in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. According to the Times of Israel, the Iran-backed militant group also reported that several members of his family died in the attack. Hamas stated: "Fathi Sharif Abu Al-Amin, the leader of Hamas in Lebanon and a member of the leadership of this movement abroad," along with his wife, son, and daughter, were killed in an attack that targeted their home in the Palestinian refugee camp 'Al-Bass' in the south of Tyre in the early hours of Monday. As Israel intensifies military pressure against 'Iran's allies' in the region, the 'Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine' also reported that three of its leaders were killed in an attack in the 'Kola' area of Beirut. Reuters witnesses said the attack targeted the upper floor of an apartment building. The Israeli army did not immediately comment. The Monday attack in the Kola area appears to be the first strike within the urban limits of Beirut. Syrians fleeing Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon reportedly slept under a bridge in the neighborhood for days, according to local residents. According to Reuters, the frequent increase in Israeli attacks against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Houthi forces in Yemen has raised concerns about the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East and the potential involvement of the Iranian government and the United States, Israel's main ally, in these conflicts. The United States has emphasized a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Lebanon but has also bolstered its military presence in the region. U.S. President Joe Biden, in response to a question about whether a full-scale war in the Middle East can be avoided, stated, 'It must be so.' He mentioned that he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The first Israeli attack in central Beirut targeted a unit of a building. To prevent the escalation of war in the Middle East, Biden says he will talk with the Israeli Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel still has difficult days ahead. Israel's attack on Iranian-backed Houthi positions in Hodeidah continues; 11 people were killed in ongoing attacks in Gaza.