Profile of Saleh al-Arouri, Fallen Deputy of Hamas in Lebanon

Saleh al-Arouri, a high-ranking Hamas figure, recently died in what is believed to be an Israeli strike in Lebanon. He was instrumental in enhancing the military capabilities of Hamas and establishing connections with allies in the region.

At 57, Arouri co-founded the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military branch, in the early 1990s. He was a key figure in Hamas’s operations, notably its links with Iran and Hezbollah, and had frequently visited Iran.

Arouri was also recognized as the leader of Hamas in the West Bank. His expertise significantly contributed to the growth of Hamas’s military strength in recent years. At the time of his death, he was considered the second-in-command in Hamas and was implicated by Israel in numerous attacks, including a significant one on October 7.

Arouri, born in the West Bank village of Aroura, was deeply involved in Islamic student politics and joined the Muslim Brotherhood, which later evolved into Hamas. He was first imprisoned in the early 1990s, then again in 2007, and was eventually exiled in 2010, living first in Syria and later in Lebanon.

Post-2010, Arouri became a member of Hamas’s political wing and played a role in the prisoner exchange involving Gilad Shalit in 2011. He was elected as deputy head of Hamas’s political arm in 2017.

With Arouri’s death, Israeli forces are likely to shift their focus to other senior Hamas members, such as Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, and Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza. Another significant figure is Mohammed Deif, leader of the armed wing, who has been on the U.S. list of “international terrorists” since 2015 and is known for his elusive nature.