Beirut, Lebanon: Israel’s military has confirmed it killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, in a targeted airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The strike, which hit a residential building in the densely populated Dahieh district, resulted in at least five fatalities and 28 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Israel described al-Tabtabai as a “veteran of the group who had held a series of senior positions.” Following the operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country “will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power” or “once again pose a threat to Israel.” He called on the Lebanese government to fulfill its commitment to disarm the militant group.
Hezbollah has confirmed al-Tabtabai’s death, warning that Israel has “crossed a red line” by carrying out the strike deep within the Lebanese capital. The assassination has fueled growing fears of a severe escalation in hostilities between the two parties.
Israeli officials assert that the action was necessary as Hezbollah has been actively attempting to rebuild its military strength. They cite evidence of the group smuggling weapons into Lebanon and significantly increasing the production of explosive drones as an alternative to its traditional arsenal of rockets and missiles.
The killing of al-Tabtabai marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and highlights the volatile security situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border.