The Israeli armed forces carried out an air strike on the southern part of Beirut – the first since the beginning of June, targeting the second-most important individual in Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the IDF struck “in the heart of Beirut, targeting the Hezbollah chief of staff who oversaw the organization’s buildup and armament.” An Israeli source told CNN that the target of the airstrike was Haytham Ali Tabatabaei, who was effectively the second-in-command in Hezbollah, but it remains unclear whether he was eliminated. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, one person was killed and 21 were injured as a result of the strike. The attack occurred in a densely populated area of southern Beirut, among residential buildings. Footage from the scene showed smoke rising from the fourth or fifth floor of an apartment building in a busy sector of southern Beirut. Netanyahu authorized the strike based on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff, his office clarified. “We will continue to act decisively to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, adding: “Whoever raises a hand against Israel—that hand will be cut off.” In September 2024, an Israeli strike on southern Beirut resulted in the death of long-time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and subsequent Israeli operations undermined the group’s military command. Israel also destroyed pagers and radios used by Hezbollah members, leading to dozens of deaths. A year ago, a ceasefire was reached through US mediation, but Israeli forces continue to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and militants in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley. The United States designated Tabatabaei as a terrorist in 2016, calling him a key military leader of Hezbollah who “commanded the group’s special forces units in both Syria and Yemen.” The US State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program offered up to $5 million for information about Tabatabaei. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah is obligated to surrender heavy weaponry and withdraw all personnel south of the Litani River. Progress in disarmament has been minimal, prompting Israeli officials to warn of escalating military measures if the Lebanese government does not take steps to restrain Hezbollah. Lebanese President Michel Aoun earlier this month accused Israel of “sparing no effort to demonstrate its rejection of any negotiated settlement between the two countries.”
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