"This is the first attack in the capital of Lebanon in almost two decades. Al-Arouri is the most senior Hamas leader killed since the group, designated by the US and the European Union as a terrorist organization, infiltrated Israel on October 7 and killed nearly 1,200 people. Israel responded with attacks on the Gaza Strip that have so far killed more than 20,000 Palestinians."

The television broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising from an apartment building in the Musharafiye neighborhood, while ambulances were seen rushing to the explosion site. According to reports from the National News Agency of Lebanon, six people were killed in the blast. The southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital are known as a stronghold for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that has been engaged in gunfights with Israel along the border with Lebanon in support of Hamas.