In a major escalation of the Middle East conflict, a powerful explosion rocked the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday, resulting in the death of Saleh al-Arouri, a top official with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, along with three others. The blast, which Lebanon's state-run National News Agency attributed to an Israeli drone strike, has raised tensions in the region and sparked concerns of further retaliation.

Hezbollah-linked news outlets, including Al-Mayadeen, a publication associated with Hezbollah, reported that the high-ranking Hamas official was killed in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. Israeli officials, however, have denied any involvement in the attack but acknowledged the “surgical” precision of the strike. Netanyahu adviser Ambassador Mark Regev emphasized that the attack was not directed towards the Lebanese state or Hezbollah but rather a targeted strike against the Hamas leadership.

Al-Arouri, known as one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, had been overseeing the group's operations in the West Bank. Israeli Defense Forces were reportedly targeting a Hamas office in the strike. It is worth noting that Netanyahu had previously threatened to kill al-Arouri even before the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7th.

The explosion, which claimed the lives of six people according to Lebanon's National News Agency, has further strained the already tense relations between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials within Lebanon. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack as a “crime” and expressed concerns that it could escalate the confrontation between Lebanon and Israel.

Bassem Naim, a Hamas official, confirmed al-Arouri's death, while a Hezbollah official, speaking anonymously, also confirmed the Hamas leader's demise. Al-Arouri had been a wanted figure, with the United States government previously offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on him due to his involvement in various terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings.

The explosion occurred in Musharafieh, a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group, which is an Iran-backed ally of Hamas and one of the world's most heavily armed non-state military forces. It comes amidst ongoing heavy exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Hezbollah along Lebanon's southern border. The fighting has resulted in casualties on both sides, with Israel evacuating thousands of civilians from border communities. Israel's air force has also conducted strikes on Hezbollah targets deeper within Lebanon.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several attacks along the Lebanon-Israel border, specifically targeting Israeli military posts. Israel's Minister of Defense Benny Gantz warned last month that if the Hezbollah attacks did not cease, Israel's military would take action to push the armed group back into Lebanon.

The death of al-Arouri, a significant figure within Hamas, has further intensified the already volatile situation in the Middle East. As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches for potential further escalations and the impact they may have on the region.