Israeli Airstrike Targets Hezbollah Military Chief in Beirut

Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb on Sunday, targeting Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's de facto military chief. The strike hit the Haret Hreik neighborhood, a known Hezbollah stronghold, resulting in at least one death and 21 injuries, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Tabatabai, considered second in command after Secretary-General Naim Qassem, has been a key figure in Hezbollah's military operations. Born in 1968 in Beirut to a Lebanese mother and Iranian father, he joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and has held several senior roles, including commanding the elite Radwan Force and overseeing operations in Syria and Yemen.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, stating that Tabatabai was a "veteran and central operative in the terror organization." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the operation was conducted on his order, following recommendations from the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, calling on the international community to intervene and stop Israeli aggression. Hezbollah acknowledged that a senior figure had been targeted but did not confirm Tabatabai's death.

The United States was not given advance notice of the strike. A senior U.S. official stated that while Washington was aware of Israel's plans to escalate strikes in Lebanon, it did not know the timing, location, or target of this specific operation.

This airstrike marks the first Israeli attack in Beirut in five months and comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.