Israeli warplanes launched a deadly strike Sunday afternoon on a residential neighborhood in southern Beirut on Sunday, claiming to target a senior Hezbollah commander, in another flagrant violation of the ceasefire.
The airstrike hit Haret Hreik, a densely populated district in the capital's southern suburbs, wounding several civilians and causing widespread destruction. Israel claimed the raid killed a high-ranking Hezbollah operative, though it refused to disclose a name.
Lebanese media and military sources are considering Haytham Tabatabai, known also as “Abu Ali” and the group’s second-in-command, might have been the target of this extrajudicial execution.
“In the heart of Beirut, the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief-of-Staff, who had been leading the terrorist organization's buildup and rearmament,” the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced. “Israel is determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times.”
Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee described the strike as “precise,” claiming it hit a “prominent terrorist from the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
The Lebanese National News Agency reported the “hostile aircraft” strike led to multiple casualties and significant material damage. Civil defense teams combed the rubble searching for survivors.
Netanyahu, speaking early Sunday, renewed his vow to prevent Hezbollah and Hamas from rearming. “We are continuing to strike terrorism on several fronts,” he said at a security cabinet meeting. “This weekend, the Israeli military struck in Lebanon, and we will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its threat capability against us.”
The Beirut raid came days after an Israeli airstrike on the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon killed 13 Palestinians and wounded others in the camp's football field. The Israeli military alleged the site was a Hamas training facility, a claim the group denied.
“The occupation's allegations are lies aimed at legitimizing its aggression and inciting against Palestinian refugees,” Hamas said on Telegram.
Last week, the Lebanese Health Ministry said two civilians had been killed and several injured in separate Israeli air raids on Bint Jbeil, Blida, and the village of Tayr Harfa in southern Lebanon.
These assaults continue despite a 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that included partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and an imposition on Hezbollah to demilitarize the area. Violations have since surged, with Israel justifying its continued strikes as a response to alleged Hezbollah rearmament.
Israeli forces continue to occupy at least five positions inside Lebanese territory and carry out frequent air raids, citing threats from “Iran-backed” Hezbollah and Hamas units.
