BTN News: In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, an Israeli airstrike on Friday killed Samer al Hajj, a prominent commander of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, in the Ain el Helu refugee camp—the largest such camp in Lebanon. Al Hajj was traveling in a vehicle near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, over 50 kilometers from the Israeli border, when the strike occurred. The attack was reportedly carried out by an Israeli drone that targeted the vehicle near a police station at the southern entrance of the city, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (ANN).
Hamas quickly confirmed Al Hajj’s death, condemning the strike as a “treacherous Zionist bombing.” The Israeli military later claimed responsibility, stating that Al Hajj had been targeted due to his role in orchestrating rocket attacks against Israel from Lebanese soil. “Samer operated as a military commander in the Ain el Helu camp, situated in the Sidon area, and was responsible for recruiting and training terrorists to attack the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
The Broader Context: Rising Tensions and Strategic Targeting
The Ain el Helu refugee camp, established in 1948 on the outskirts of Sidon, is home to a complex web of committees and factions. While the Lebanese army controls access points, internal security within the camp is managed by various Palestinian groups, which have often led to clashes and instability. The camp’s strategic importance to both Palestinian factions and regional actors has made it a focal point in the ongoing conflict.
The recent spike in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon coincides with an escalation in regional tensions following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October. Israel has conducted a series of targeted killings against Hamas members residing in Lebanon, with Al Hajj being the most recent high-profile casualty. In January, Israel reportedly assassinated Saleh al Arouri, the second-in-command of Hamas, near Beirut. These targeted strikes have not been limited to Hamas; Israel has also intensified its campaign against members of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, with which it has been engaged in fierce cross-border exchanges since the Gaza war began on October 7.
Impact on Lebanon and the Broader Middle East
The latest Israeli airstrikes have further strained Lebanon’s already volatile situation. On the same day as Al Hajj’s killing, two alleged Hezbollah members were reportedly killed in a separate drone strike in Naqoura, another southern Lebanese town. These attacks have fueled concerns of a broader regional conflict, particularly given Hezbollah’s significant military capabilities and its long-standing enmity with Israel.
Lebanon, which hosts more than 470,000 Palestinian refugees registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has seen a decline in its Palestinian population, with estimates suggesting that less than half of these refugees still reside in the country. The Ain el Helu camp, in particular, has become a symbol of the protracted refugee crisis, as well as a flashpoint for violence between various factions.
The assassination of Samer al Hajj is likely to exacerbate the already high tensions in Lebanon and across the region. As Israel continues its campaign of targeted strikes, the potential for retaliation from Hamas or Hezbollah looms large, raising the specter of a broader conflict that could engulf the region. The ongoing exchange of hostilities underscores the fragile nature of peace in the Middle East and the complex web of alliances and enmities that characterize the region’s geopolitical landscape.
