Against the backdrop of an explosion in the southern suburb and the assassination of the Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement, Saleh al-Arouri, the second day of the new year unfolded, thrusting Lebanon into a new phase of war amid anticipation of the speech by Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, tomorrow. The speech is expected to determine the resistance's decision regarding the response to Israel, which carried out its threats today through a procession targeting a Hamas office in the southern suburbs of Beirut, resulting in 7 deaths and 18 injuries.

According to information, the assassination operation took place through two unmanned aerial vehicles. One targeted a residential apartment in the suburb during a meeting of al-Arouri with several officials from the Al-Qassam Brigades, while the second directly targeted al-Arouri's car.

The Israeli media announced the assassination of al-Arouri, revealing that he was scheduled to meet Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah tomorrow, Wednesday.

Al-Aqsa TV, affiliated with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, confirmed the "martyrdom of the Deputy Head of Hamas' Political Bureau, the mujahid leader Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri, in a treacherous airstrike in Beirut." It also noted the "killing of the commanders in the Al-Qassam Brigades, Samir Fendi Abu Amer and Azzam al-Aqra Abu Amar, in the Israeli strike in Lebanon".

"Yedioth Ahronoth" reported the assassination of the Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, although Hamas denied the news. In an official response to the airstrike, the acting Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the explosion, considering Israel's bombing of the Hamas office as "involving" Lebanon in the war. He also instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the caretaker government, Abdullah Bou Habib, to "urgently file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council in light of the blatant targeting of Lebanese sovereignty in the explosion that occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut tonight and all the new Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty".

In the aftermath of the serious developments in Lebanon, Hezbollah affirmed that this crime will never pass without a response and punishment. Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed to intermediaries the suspension of any negotiations with Israel until further notice, and the Palestinian Prime Minister warned of its repercussions. The Islamic Jihad considered al-Arouri's assassination an attempt by the enemy to escalate the conflict and drag the region into war, escaping from the failure in Gaza. Fatah movement in Lebanon also condemned the assassination.

Additionally, Palestinian factions declared a national mourning and a general strike across all arenas and fronts.

In turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the assassination of al-Arouri and two leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades is a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, and they called on the United Nations for an urgent and effective response.

In Gaza, after 88 days since the outbreak of the war between Israel and the Hamas movement, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Movement, Ismail Haniyeh, announced on Tuesday that Hamas is "open to the restoration of national reference and a national government" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

On-the-ground developments, the Israeli army continued its operations in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, targeting various areas in the northern, southern, and central parts of the Strip with airstrikes in the past hours, resulting in additional casualties and injuries.

Amidst the new developments in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his visit to Israel to the following Monday. The visit was initially scheduled for Thursday.

Internationally, airstrikes on Tuesday targeted buildings in Ukraine and a border region with Russia, escalating the mutual aerial attacks between the two parties. These attacks resulted in casualties and prompted Kyiv to call on the West to expedite the delivery of weapon shipments.

Furthermore, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to "continue steadfast support for Ukraine in its resistance to aggression and occupation" during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In Japan, rescue teams are racing against time to find survivors a day after the earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, claiming the lives of at least 48 people.

Meanwhile, Turkey announced the arrest of 34 individuals on suspicion of planning kidnapping and espionage operations on behalf of the Israeli Mossad, without specifying their nationalities.

In Iraq, the Counter-Terrorism Agency in the Kurdistan Region announced the "downing" of a drone that was targeting the international coalition forces against the Islamic State and the stationed U.S. forces near Erbil Airport.

In Iran, the Iranian judiciary carried out death sentences by hanging against nine individuals convicted of drug trafficking in the past few days, as reported by the official media.