An Israeli airstrike on Beirut has resulted in the death of Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander and reported second-in-command of the organization. The attack, which occurred in the Haret Hreik district, a Hezbollah stronghold, is said to have killed at least five people and injured 28 others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the operation as part of Israel’s ongoing campaign to eliminate the group, which he condemns as a terrorist entity. In contrast, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly criticized the attack, calling for the international community to take decisive measures to prevent further violence against Lebanon’s civilian population.
Tabatabai, joined Hezbollah as a teenager during its formation in the wake of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. He was one of the few commanders to survive Israel’s targeted-killing campaign last year. The strike was confirmed by both Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which stated that Tabatabai was struck in the Haret Hreik district. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the attack killed at least five people and injured 28 others.
Netanyahu said on X that the US had put a bounty of five million dollars on Tabatabai’s head, a reward issued in 2016 after the commander escaped an earlier Israeli assassination attempt. Israeli officials said Tabatabai had been overseeing Hezbollah’s rearmament efforts as the organization worked to rebuild its capabilities following a string of setbacks by Israel, including the detonation of booby-trapped pagers last year that Israeli intelligence previously infiltrated into the movement’s supply channels. He argued that dismantling the organization would enable a better future for every citizen in Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the latest attack, calling on the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene firmly and seriously to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people. Hezbollah referred to Tabatabai as a great commander, highlighting his significance within the organization. The incident further escalates tensions in the region, with both countries continuing to escalate their military confrontations. The situation is expected to remain volatile in the coming weeks as both sides prepare for further engagement.