In an attack on the capital of Lebanon this Sunday, the 23rd, the first since June, Israel stated that it killed the Hezbollah chief of staff, Haytham Tabtabai. The Israeli government has warned the Iran-backed group not to rearm or try to rebuild a year after its last war. The attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs killed five people and injured 25 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
Hezbollah has not yet commented. Earlier, it said the attack, launched almost exactly a year after a ceasefire that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah, threatened an escalation of attacks – just days before Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon on his first trip abroad.
“We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to northern residents and the state of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. Government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian would not say whether Israel informed the US before the attack, saying only that “Israel makes decisions independently.” Israel did not issue an evacuation warning.
Continues after advertising
Tabtabai led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit. The Israeli army said he “commanded the majority of Hezbollah units and worked hard to restore them to readiness for war with Israel.”
In 2016, the United States designated Tabtabai a terrorist, calling him a military leader who commanded Hezbollah special forces in Syria and Yemen, and offered up to $5 million for information about him.
Tabtabai was the apparent successor to Ibrahim Aqil, who was killed in September 2024 in Israeli strikes that decimated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
‘Escalation of attacks’
Earlier, at the site of Sunday’s attack, Mahmoud Qamati, vice chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, told reporters that a high-ranking militant may have been killed, but gave no details.
“The Hezbollah leadership is studying the question of response and will make the appropriate decision,” Qamati said. “The attack on the southern suburbs today opens the door to an escalation of attacks across Lebanon.”
Continues after advertising
Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks as Israel and the United States pressure Lebanon to disarm the powerful militant group. Israel claims Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government, which approved its army’s plan to disarm Hezbollah, denied these allegations.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a statement condemned Sunday’s attack and accused Israel of refusing to implement its side of the ceasefire agreement. He called on the international community to “intervene forcefully and seriously to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people.”
Israel’s military statement said the country remained committed to the “understandings” agreed with Lebanon.
Continues after advertising
Smoke could be seen in the busy Haret Hreik neighborhood. A video circulated on social media showed dozens of people crowded around the area of the attack, which appeared to be on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Gunshots could be heard to disperse the crowd as emergency workers arrived.
“This is definitely a civilian area and devoid of any military presence, especially the neighborhood where we are,” Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar told reporters near the scene.
An Israeli drone was flying near the target building. The Lebanese army cordoned off the area, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Continues after advertising
(*Fonte: Associated Press)
*Content translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence, reviewed and edited by the Broadcast Editorial Team, Grupo Estado’s real-time news system.
