Israeli Military Eliminates Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in Precision Beirut Strike

Haytham Ali Tabatabai served as Hezbollah's de facto chief of staff and was considered second-in-command to Secretary General Naim Qassem.

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had successfully eliminated senior Hezbollah leader Haytham Ali Tabatabai in a targeted strike in Beirut.

In an official statement, the Israeli Defence Forces described Tabatabai as effectively functioning as the Iran-backed militant group's chief of staff. He had previously commanded Hezbollah's elite Radwan Unit, which specialized in planning cross-border operations against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the IDF had conducted a strike "in the heart of Beirut," specifically targeting Tabatabai, who they claimed had been orchestrating the organization's rebuilding and rearmament efforts.

Born in Beirut in 1968 to an Iranian father and a south Lebanese mother, Tabatabai grew up in southern Lebanon and joined Hezbollah at just 12 years old, according to reports from the Times of Israel.

Israel had previously attempted to assassinate Tabatabai in southern Syria in 2015, in an operation that instead killed Jihad Mughniyeh, son of Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh who was himself eliminated in 2008. Tabatabai ascended in Hezbollah's leadership structure in late 2024 following the IDF's elimination of much of the group's senior leadership.

The United States designated Tabatabai as a terrorist in 2016 and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information about him.

Hezbollah acknowledged that the strike had targeted a high-ranking figure within their organization but did not confirm the individual's identity. "The targeting was clearly aimed at a key... figure in the resistance, and the results are unknown," Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati told AFP, adding that the attack "crosses a new red line".

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strike killed five people and wounded at least 28 others. The attack left visible damage to an apartment building and scattered debris throughout a densely populated area of southern Beirut.

Hezbollah parliamentarian Ali Ammar contested Israel's targeting justification, stating, "This is definitely a civilian area and void of any military presence, especially the neighbourhood where we stand."

The IDF confirmed conducting what they called a "precise strike" on a "key" Hezbollah militant in Beirut. This marks the first Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital since June 5, when Israel claimed to have targeted a Hezbollah drone factory.

Earlier the same day, another Israeli strike hit the southern town of Aita al-Shaab, reportedly killing one person according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Hezbollah has been significantly weakened by its ongoing conflict with Israel, which began in October 2023 when the group launched cross-border attacks in support of Hamas in Gaza. What started as exchanges of fire eventually escalated into two months of full-scale war.

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu had emphasized that Israel would take "everything necessary" to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping in Lebanon. "This weekend, the IDF struck in Lebanon, and we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its threat capability against us," Netanyahu stated during a cabinet meeting.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced this position, saying, "We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and to the State of Israel. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel -- his hand will be cut off."

Despite a ceasefire agreement in November 2024 intended to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, primarily targeting what it claims are members of the militant group in the country's southern and eastern regions.