Beirut

Gaza-based militant group Hamas said Monday (Sep 30) one of its top leaders in Lebanon was killed in a strike on the country’s south in the day earlier.

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“Fatah Sharif Abu al-Amine, the leader of Hamas… in Lebanon and member of the movement’s leadership abroad” was killed in an air strike on his “home in the Al-Bass camp in south Lebanon”, a statement released by Hamas said.

The statement added that Fatah was killed along with his wife, son and daughter in what it dubbed a “terrorist and criminal assassination”.

Also read: Netanyahu puts forward condition for permanent ceasefire in Gaza: 'Until that happens..'

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Earlier, National News Agency, the official media arm of the Lebanese government, reported an air strike on Al-Bass near the city of Tyre in what came as the first such attack on a refugee camp.

Earlier same day, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a secular left-wing group, said three of its members were killed in a strike on Beirut’s Kola district.

It’s not unusual for Israel to target Hamas officials in Lebanon since the war started in Gaza a year ago. Similar strikes have been carried out by Israel in January and August, in which Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri and six other militants in Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold were killed. Israel also killed Hamas commander Samer al-Hajj in a strike on a vehicle in the south Lebanon city of Sidon.

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Iran to not confront Israel

As Israel intensifies its assault on Iranian proxies in the region, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis, Iran has said it will not send its forces to Lebanon or Gaza for confronting Israeli troops.

"There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, adding that Lebanon and fighters in the Palestinian territories "have the capability and strength to defend themselves against the aggression."

(With inputs from agencies)