Iran says killing of top Hamas official will ignite further resistance against Israel

Iran said the killing of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon will further ignite the resistance against Israel, state media reported.

“The martyr’s blood will undoubtedly ignite another surge in the veins of resistance and the motivation to fight against the Zionist occupiers, not only in Palestine but also in the region and among all freedom-seekers worldwide,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani.

Kanani also condemned the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by “the aggressive Zionist regime.”

An explosion in Beirut on Tuesday killed al-Arouri, a top official with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and three others, officials with Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah said.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the blast killed four people and was carried out by an Israeli drone. Israeli officials declined to comment.