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Israeli Strike Kills Top Hezbollah Commander in Beirut, Threatening Ceasefire
Beirut, Lebanon – An Israeli strike on the Haret Hreik area of Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday killed five people, including Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a high-ranking military commander within Hezbollah. Tabatabai, known as Sayyid Abu Ali, was reportedly the chief of staff for the group and held senior positions since its founding in 1982.
The attack, the first of its kind in the Beirut suburbs in months and reportedly conducted without warning, marks a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and threatens the ceasefire established last November.
Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death and identified him as a “great martyr jihadist commander,” accusing Israel of a “treacherous attack.” The group said Tabatabai held a number of key military roles, including leading the Nabatieh and Khiam axis during periods of Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. He also participated in establishing Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, a specialized elite unit.
Israeli media reported that this was the third attempt on Tabatabai’s life, claiming he led the Radwan Force in Syria and Yemen and later commanded Hezbollah’s southern front. The Israeli military said Tabatabai “commanded most of Hezbollah’s units and worked extensively to restore their readiness for war with Israel.”
The strike has drawn condemnation from Hezbollah officials, with Mahmoud Qmati, Vice President of the group’s Political Council, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and escalating the conflict with the “green light given by the United States.” Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar called the attack a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and security.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on the international community to intervene and halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Just days prior to the strike, Aoun announced plans to enter peace negotiations with Israel.
While Israel said it remains committed to the ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strike by claiming Tabatabai posed a threat to Israeli security.
The US news outlet Axios reported that US officials were aware of an expected “escalation” but were not informed of the specifics of the strike.
The killing of Tabatabai, a key figure in Hezbollah’s military structure, raises serious concerns about a potential escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with potentially destabilizing effects on the region.
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