BREAKING NEWS: ISRAEL LAUNCHES FIRST AIRSTRIKE ON SOUTHERN BEIRUT SINCE JUNE, TARGETS HEZBOLLAH’S SECOND-IN-COMMAND, HAYTHAM ALI TABATABAI, AS FIVE KILLED, 28 INJURED

The Israeli military has conducted an air strike on southern Beirut, the first since early June, targeting Hezbollah’s second most senior figure.

According to an Israeli source who spoke to CNN, the target of the operation was Haytham Ali Tabatabai, described as “effectively Hezbollah’s second-in-command,” though it remains unclear whether he was killed in the strike.

The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that five people were killed and 28 others injured in the attack. Images emerging from the scene showed thick smoke billowing from the fourth or fifth floor of an apartment building located in a densely populated area of southern Beirut.

In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF had struck “in the heart of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, who led the organization’s buildup and armament efforts.”

According to the statement, Netanyahu authorized the strike following a recommendation from the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning after the operation, 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.”

This latest development follows a September 2024 Israeli strike in southern Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

In recent months, Israeli operations have severely weakened Hezbollah’s military command structure, including by blowing up pagers and walkie-talkies used by its members, attacks that killed dozens.

Though a ceasefire was brokered through US mediation a year ago, Israeli forces have continued to hit Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley. While strikes across Lebanon have been frequent, direct attacks on Beirut remain rare.

The United States designated Tabatabai as a terrorist in 2016, describing him as a key Hezbollah military leader “who has commanded the group’s special forces in both Syria and Yemen.”

The US Rewards for Justice program had offered up to $5 million for information leading to him.

Under the existing ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah is obligated to surrender its heavy weapons and withdraw its personnel from areas south of the Litani River.

However, there has been minimal progress, with Israeli officials repeatedly warning that military action will intensify unless the Lebanese government moves decisively to restrain the group.

Earlier this month, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of sparing “no effort to show its rejection of any negotiated settlement between the two countries,” underscoring the rising tension in a region alread y fraught with volatility.