A senior Lebanese security official told AFP on Wednesday that a second Palestinian movement, Hamas, was the target of “guided missiles” fired by an Israeli fighter jet over Beirut’s southern suburbs, AFP reported.

Saleh al-Aruri and six other Hamas leaders were killed in a strike attributed to Israel that targeted the Islamist movement’s offices in the stronghold of the powerful pro-Iranian Hezbollah late Tuesday.

Lebanon’s official Ani news agency reported on Tuesday that the attack, which targeted the outskirts of the Lebanese capital for the first time since the start of the Gaza war, was carried out by a drone.

A security official, who was briefed on the preliminary investigations and spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Hamas’ number two was killed “not by a drone but by guided missiles fired by an Israeli fighter jet.”

He cited the extremely “precise” nature of the strike and the considerable weight of the missiles, each of which weighed about “100 kilograms”.

The Israeli military did not claim responsibility for the attack, but said on Wednesday it was prepared for “any scenario”.

The official said four of the six rockets fired exploded, two of which destroyed two floors before landing directly in a meeting room for Hamas officials.

He added that the Lebanese army found remnants of rockets matching those fired by Israel in southern Lebanon.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7, pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which claims to be intervening in support of the Palestinian movement, has been exchanging gunfire with Israel on a daily basis along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

According to AFP, more than 165 people have died in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters, as well as more than 20 civilians, including three journalists.

According to the authorities, nine soldiers and five civilians were killed in northern Israel.

After the attack on Tuesday night, Hezbollah said that “murder will not go unpunished.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel of “desiring to lead Lebanon into a new phase of confrontation.”

Several exiled Hamas operatives are based in Lebanon under the protection of Hezbollah.

On the same topic:

• The leader of “Hezbollah” criticizes the October attack by Hamas: “It led to the collapse of Israel’s deterrence capacity”