Killing of a Hamas leader in an Israeli airstrike on Sidon, Lebanon.

In the early hours of Wednesday, an Israeli drone carried out a precise airstrike targeting a civilian car in the Filaat neighborhood in the city of Sidon, southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of Khaled al-Ahmad, a leader in Hamas movement who held the position of operations chief in the movement's western sector in Lebanon. According to the Israeli army, Khaled al-Ahmad was behind several "terrorist" plots against Israel during the war, contributed to directing attacks from Lebanon, in addition to his role in transporting weapons and planning sabotage attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. This operation has sparked a wave of tension in the region, especially since the targeted city has witnessed a significant presence of Hamas leaders in the recent period and has been subjected to similar attacks repeatedly. Initial scenes from the scene of the incident show the targeted car completely destroyed as a result of the airstrike, while Lebanese army elements have been deployed to cordon off the area and begin investigations. The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced one fatality in the Israeli airstrike on Sidon, while the National News Agency indicated that the attack took place near the Imam Ali Mosque, confirming the civilian nature of the targeted site and raising questions about the security implications of this escalation. This strike comes at a time when the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in place since last November, yet Israel continues to carry out military operations inside Lebanese territories amid official Lebanese warnings of the repercussions of any attack that may threaten internal stability. The Lebanese government recently stated that it would take the strictest measures if Lebanese territories were used to carry out military operations that endanger the country's security. Israeli targeting operations against Hamas members inside Lebanon have noticeably escalated since the outbreak of the war between the movement and Israel in October 2023, especially in the southern regions of the country. Observers point out that Tel Aviv seeks through these operations to undermine Hamas's influence in Lebanon and prevent the opening of a second front against it from Lebanese territories. The assassination of Khaled al-Ahmad brings back the complexities of the Lebanese-Israeli scene, confirming that the confrontation arena is no longer limited to Gaza, but has expanded to include regional parties and multiple locations, increasing the likelihood of sliding into a broader war if the escalation is not contained.