Tel Aviv Tribune Net correspondents
Washington – Dr. Joseph Vitsanakis, an expert in intelligence and security affairs at Coastal Carolina University, spoke about three reasons that make it unlikely that the United States played any role in the assassination of Saleh Al-Arouri, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in Beirut on Tuesday.
The White House had confirmed, through the official spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, that the United States had no close or distant connection to the attack that led to the death of Al-Arouri, and the White House’s confirmation was consistent with the estimates of American security experts that Tel Aviv Tribune Net spoke to, and they concluded the conclusion. itself.
On the “terrorist list”
In his press briefing at the White House, Kirby said, “Al-Arouri was classified as a terrorist and no one should cry over his departure.” In 2018, the US government placed Al-Arouri’s name on what its State Department calls “the most wanted list,” and allocated $5 million to anyone who provides information leading to locating or arresting him.
The US Department’s announcement said: “Saleh Al-Arouri is the deputy of the political bureau of the Hamas terrorist organization and one of the founders of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.” Washington accused him of financing and directing Hamas’ military operations in the West Bank, and that his name was linked to several Israeli attacks and kidnappings.
She pointed out that “Al-Arouri claimed Hamas responsibility for the attack that occurred on June 12, 2014, in which 3 young Israelis were kidnapped and killed in the West Bank, including the American-Israeli citizen with dual citizenship, Naftali Frankel.”
The US State Department announcement indicated that Al-Arouri publicly bragged about the murders, describing it as a “heroic operation.” In September 2015, the US Treasury designated him as a “global terrorist” under Executive Order No. (13224).
Reasons to rule out Washington’s involvement
In an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net, intelligence and security affairs expert Vitsanakis confirmed that he ruled out any operational link between the United States and the killing of Al-Arouri, for three reasons:
- First, the US government has been very clear since last October 7 that its strategic and primary concern is to contain the war between Israel and Hamas, and limit it to the Gaza Strip only (if possible), or in the worst possible scenario within Gaza, Israel and the West Bank, and that Al-Arouri’s killing may Hezbollah is pushing to enter this war, something Washington is desperately trying to avoid.
- Second, Al-Arouri was in fact a major point of contact between the leadership of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and the fact that he and his team (6 of whom were killed) were working on the ground in the southern suburbs, Hezbollah’s stronghold, is a testament to how close they were to the party’s senior leadership, and likely The Americans hoped that Al-Arouri and other senior Hamas officials in Lebanon would be able to work as channels for back-door negotiations with Hezbollah, and through them with Iran, and his assassination eliminated that channel.
- Third, Al-Arouri actively participated in the reconciliation negotiations between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and his presence could have helped facilitate negotiations between Hamas and Fatah regarding the post-war governance landscape in Gaza. There is no doubt that his killing will make it easier for Hamas hardliners to rule out any negotiations. With the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority, which they consider to be complicit with Israel in Gaza.
Assassination serves Israel
Professor Vitsanakis pointed out that the killing of Al-Arouri serves Israel’s goals, but is not compatible with Washington’s goals. He told Tel Aviv Tribune Net that this operation ultimately achieves three main Israeli goals:
- First, the possibility of a back-channel discussion between the Americans and Iran becomes more difficult.
- Secondly, the possibility of a rapprochement between Hamas and Fatah will also become more remote, which in turn reduces the chances of reaching a security arrangement based on a role for the Fatah movement after the war in Gaza, which is linked to the desires of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Third, it sends a message to the Americans that Israel will not hesitate to escalate the war, and to confront some of the silent criticism from Washington regarding its handling of the war. While Israel is actually indicating its intention to force Washington to take a stronger position in its favor, which is what the Biden administration will be forced to do if Hezbollah responds with a large-scale attack in the coming days.
At the conclusion of his speech to Tel Aviv Tribune Net, Vitsanakis noted, “It is very possible that the Israelis informed the Americans of the attack on Al-Arouri, but that most likely happened shortly before the drone strike that killed him and his team, or shortly after that.”
He adds, “It was a polite way of saying, ‘We are informing you out of respect, but we are not asking for your permission,’ and this will likely serve as a model for how Israel operates regarding assassinations abroad from now on.”
