An Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas militants in northern Lebanon on October 5, 2024, killed Commander Saeed Attallah Ali, his wife, and two daughters. The strike hit their home in the Beddawi refugee camp near Tripoli, marking the first time the region has been attacked since the Gaza conflict erupted nearly a year ago. Israel has continuously targeted Hamas leaders in Lebanon, intensifying its efforts since the war broke out.

The militant group confirmed the deaths, stating that Ali’s home was destroyed in the “Zionist bombardment.” This follows a pattern of targeted attacks, including the killing of at least 18 Hamas militants in Lebanon during the ongoing hostilities.

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Hamas also announced the death of Fatah Sharif Abu al-Amine, one of its top leaders in Lebanon, during a similar strike earlier this week in the Al-Bass refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Israel’s military has repeatedly stated its aim to dismantle Hamas’s operations in Lebanon, with strikes becoming more frequent in Hezbollah-controlled areas of Beirut and southern Lebanon. In August, Hamas commander Samer al-Hajj was killed in Sidon, while another strike in January claimed the life of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold.

Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, remain hotspots for violence, with Palestinian factions controlling security in the camps due to an agreement that keeps the Lebanese army out of these areas. As tensions rise, these camps continue to serve as flashpoints in the broader Israel-Palestine conflict.