Beirut (Lebanon), 24 November (Udaipur Kiran)। Israel carried out a major airstrike on Wednesday targeting a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut’s southern Haret Hreik area, achieving what it called a significant operational success. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), five Hezbollah operatives were killed in the strike, including Haitham Ali Tabatabai, a top commander of the group’s military wing.
A Hezbollah spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Tabatabai and four others. This marks the first Israeli airstrike inside Beirut since July, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
Tabatabai was considered the second-most powerful leader in the Iran-backed organisation, ranking just below deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem. Hezbollah described him as a “great jihadi commander.” The other militants killed include Ibrahim Ali Hussain, Rifaat Ahmed Hussain, Mustafa Asad Barou, and Qassim Hussain Barzawi.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that 28 people were injured in the strike.
Tabatabai’s Long Militant Career
The IDF stated that Tabatabai had joined Hezbollah’s military wing in the 1980s and held several key positions over the decades. He previously commanded the elite Radwan Force and headed Hezbollah’s operations in Syria. After the group lost many of its senior commanders in late 2024, Tabatabai emerged as a central figure directing operations against Israel.
Strike Comes One Year After Ceasefire Agreement
The attack took place almost exactly a year after a US-mediated ceasefire agreement, implemented on 27 November 2024, came into effect in Lebanon.
Israel accused the Lebanese government of failing to prevent Hezbollah’s violations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tabatabai had “blood of Israelis and Americans on his hands,” adding that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its strength.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged the international community to intervene firmly to stop Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory.
A senior US official told Channel 12 that Washington was satisfied with the outcome of the operation.
According to Hezbollah, Tabatabai was born in 1968 in Beirut to a southern Lebanese mother and an Iranian father. He grew up in southern Lebanon and joined Hezbollah in his youth.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
