The New York Times reported, citing two American officials, that Israel bears responsibility for the air strike on Beirut that led to the assassination of the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri.

One official noted that the raid “was likely the first of many secret attacks carried out by Israel against Hamas leaders.”

Al-Arouri and two leaders of the Al-Qassam Brigades were assassinated in an explosion on Tuesday evening, in the Al-Musharafiyeh area in the southern suburb of Beirut, as a result of an Israeli march targeting a Hamas office there.

The Wall Street Journal, citing Israeli officials, reported early last month that Israeli intelligence services are preparing to hunt down and kill Hamas leaders all over the world, especially Qatar, Lebanon and Turkey.

Israeli officials said that, on the orders of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, intelligence is developing plans to pursue Hamas leaders, especially in Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar.

The newspaper confirmed that this is likely the beginning of a decade of Israeli secret operations around the world.