BEIRUT — Hamas has now confirmed the death of the deputy head of its political bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri, in the blast south of Beirut. Al-Arouri was also known to be deeply involved in Hamas"s military affairs. Earlier, it was reported that a senior Hamas official was killed in the blast on Beirut"s southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, reported AFP and Reuters citing security sources. A major explosion was reported in Beirut in the last half hour. The blast was reported in Dahiyeh, a neighborhood with strong links to the Hezbollah group, an ally of Hamas. Lebanese state media said the explosion was caused by an Israeli drone strike targeting a Hamas office. Several people are reported to have been wounded. Lebanese state media, in its first reports, reported that Hamas"s office in Dahiyeh one of the city"s southern suburbs, was hit. The country"s state media also said four people have been killed in the explosion. These people have been killed in that explosion at a Hamas office in a suburb in the south of Lebanon"s capital. The major explosion in Beirut on Tuesday night follows an escalation in fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah on the border of Israel and Lebanon since Oct. 7. Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters have been killed in the cross-border exchanges, and Israel has evacuated thousands of civilians from the north, near its border with Lebanon. Late last month, Israel’s Minister of Defense Benny Gantz said Israeli forces would act to remove Hezbollah from the border if its attacks continued.Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization by Western states, Israel, Gulf Arab countries and the Arab League. Funded by Iran, it is one of the most heavily-armed, non-state military forces in the world. Meanwhile, in another development, the leader of Hamas says the remaining hostages taken during the group"s deadly cross-border attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7 will only be released under conditions set by the group itself. Speaking during a televised address, Ismail Haniyeh said Hamas has delivered its position to Qatar and Egypt — mediators in the conflict — which is based on "a complete cessation of the aggression" against Palestinians. Last month, Hamas ruled out any further hostage releases until the war ends. Israel has repeatedly rejected a permanent ceasefire and has vowed to destroy Hamas. An estimated 240 people were taken prisoner into Gaza on Oct. 7, but 105 were later released by Hamas during a six-day ceasefire at the end of November. — BBC