The calm of Beirut’s southern suburbs was shattered on November 23, leaving residents reeling and raising urgent questions: was this strike a reaction to immediate threats, or part of a longer-term effort to destabilize Hezbollah’s leadership?
Shadows of past conflicts hung over the city as Israeli forces carried out their operation.
Israel announced that it had killed one of Hezbollah’s top military figures, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the strike targeted Tabatabai due to his role as Hezbollah Chief of General Staff and his alleged orchestration of attacks against Israel, oversight of Hezbollah’s military expansion, and threats to regional stability.
Tabatabai had been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. State Department since 2016.
“This operation comes in response to repeated violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the 2024 ceasefire agreements, as well as the direct threat he posed to Israel and regional security,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 25 others injured. Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death, marking the first Israeli strike in Beirut since June and nearly a year after the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire.
The Israel Defense Forces described Tabatabai as a veteran operative dating back to the 1980s, who had held senior positions including commander of the “Radwan Force” and head of operations in Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled him a “mass murderer” whose actions had targeted Israelis and Americans, referencing the $5 million U.S. reward previously offered for his capture. Netanyahu praised the IDF for a “professional, precise, and successful operation,” reiterating that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild or pose future threats.
The strike came amid Israeli Military Chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir’s dismissal of 13 senior officers for “severe, resounding, and systemic failure” in protecting the population during the October 7, 2023 attack.
Conclusion
The targeted strike in Beirut highlights Israel’s ongoing strategy to counter Hezbollah’s military leadership and prevent future threats. While it underscores Israel’s operational capabilities, it also reflects Lebanon’s fragile security situation and the persistent regional tensions that continue to shape Middle Eastern geopolitics.