Web Desk (MNN); Israel claimed on Sunday to have killed Hezbollah’s top military official in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut, despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreed a year ago.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted Hezbollah’s acting chief of staff, Ali Tabtabai, marking the first attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital in months.
Hezbollah has not immediately confirmed the killing, although senior official Mahmoud Qmati confirmed that a central figure had been targeted.
Speaking near the bombed building in the Haret Hreik suburb, Qmati said Israel had crossed a “red line” and that Hezbollah’s leadership would decide on the group’s response.
Ali Tabtabai was sanctioned by the United States in 2016 as a key Hezbollah leader, with a reward of up to $5 million for information on him.
The Israeli military stated that Tabtabai commanded most Hezbollah units and had worked to restore them for potential conflict with Israel.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that five people were killed and 28 wounded in the strike, which hit a multi-storey building, causing debris to fall onto cars below. Residents fled their apartments fearing further attacks.
Following the attack, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to intervene and halt Israeli strikes.
Aoun said Lebanon “reiterates its call to the international community to assume responsibility and intervene seriously to stop attacks on Lebanon and its people.”
The strike occurred a week before Pope Leo’s scheduled visit to Lebanon, with hopes that the trip could signal better days for the country.
The ceasefire agreed in November 2024 was meant to end a year of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered by Hezbollah’s rocket fire following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
However, Israel has continued near-daily strikes on Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, increasing its operations in recent weeks.
Israel’s government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said, “We will not allow Hezbollah, the terror organisation, to recover and rebuild its strength and threaten Israel from anywhere inside Lebanon.” When asked if the US was notified beforehand, Bedrosian said Israel acts independently.
A senior US official confirmed that the United States was informed immediately after the strike, though Washington had known for days that Israel planned to escalate strikes in Lebanon.
