Tel Aviv, Israel – On Sunday, Israel announced that it had carried out a precise airstrike in the heart of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, which it said targeted Haytham Ali Tabatabai,
one of the most prominent military commanders in Hezbollah.
Tel Aviv describes him as the “Chief of Staff of the Organization”
and the “second man” in the leadership hierarchy after Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
The operation, which is considered one of the most serious
Israeli strikes inside Beirut in years,
This comes at a time when northern Israel and southern Lebanon
have been experiencing escalating tensions for months.
A complex operation deep inside Peru
In an official statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said the raid was carried out “moments ago” inside the capital.
Targeting Tabatabai, whom the Israeli army accuses of leading military
development and armament programs within Hezbollah,
And to participate in managing its regional operations.
The statement added that Netanyahu personally ordered the operation to be carried out
“based on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff.”
He stressed that Israel “will act whenever and wherever necessary to achieve its goals.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz escalated his rhetoric, saying: “
We will continue our decisive actions to prevent
any threat to the residents of the north…”
Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off,
and we will not return to the pre-October 7th era.”
Disagreements over coordination with Washington
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the attack was coordinated with the United States.
This was denied by a senior US official who spoke to Axios.
He stressed that Washington was not informed in advance of the strike,
and that it only learned of it immediately after it was carried out.
This discrepancy highlights the sensitivity of the process.
Especially since the United States had previously announced
a reward of $5 million for anyone who provides information about Al-Tabtabai.
He had previously survived an Israeli raid on Quneitra, Syria in 2015.
Hezbollah response: “This is a crossing of a red line.”
On the Lebanese side, Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar described the operation
as “an attack on Lebanon and a crossing of red lines.”
Ammar said: “Resistance through patience will determine the appropriate time
to confront the enemy… Our timing is different from the enemy’s timing.”
This statement reflects Hezbollah’s pattern of “calculated and delayed” responses,
but it opens the possibility of a new escalation on the border.
Escalation amid accusations of violating the 2014 agreement
The strike comes amid Israeli accusations that Hezbollah violated the 2014 ceasefire agreement.
There is a growing number of international reports indicating
that “Israel’s patience with Hezbollah’s military activities is nearing its end.”
Observers fear that the operation is part of a change in the rules of engagement.
Especially since it targets a leading figure deep within Beirut,
and not in border areas or outside of Lebanon.
