Daring Israeli strike cripples Hezbollah leadership while Arab leaders whine, exposing their failure to restrain terror.
In a dramatic midday operation on Sunday, the IDF conducted an unprecedented precision airstrike deep inside Beirut’s Dahieh suburb, killing Hezbollah’s acting Chief of Staff, Haytham Ali Tabataba’i—one of the most senior terror commanders in the Iranian-backed organization.
The IDF Spokesperson confirmed the strike, announcing a “precise attack targeting a key Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut.”
Moments later, the Prime Minister’s Office revealed the identity of the target:
Tabataba’i, Hezbollah’s top military figure and mastermind of the group’s buildup and rearmament.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the strike following recommendations from the Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff, declaring:
“Israel will act anywhere, anytime, to achieve its objectives.”
Who Was Haytham Ali Tabataba’i?
- Oversaw Hezbollah’s elite Radwan special forces
- Became acting Chief of Staff after senior commanders were eliminated
- Considered Hezbollah’s most powerful military figure
- Wanted by the U.S., with a $5 million reward for information on him
- Architect of cross-border attack plans and northern escalation
His elimination represents a severe, possibly decisive blow to Hezbollah’s operational capabilities and command structure.
Israeli Leadership Reacts
Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a blunt message:
“Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off.”
He pledged continued decisive action across Lebanon and vowed never to return to the pre–October 7 complacency.
Arab Leadership Responds with Predictable Accusations
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, repeating the familiar script accusing Israel of ignoring “international calls” and refusing to “restore stability”—ignoring Hezbollah’s daily aggression and illegal entrenchment inside Lebanese civilian areas.
His response underscores Beirut’s chronic inability—and unwillingness—to restrain Hezbollah, effectively ceding Lebanese sovereignty to Iran’s terror proxy.
Additional Israeli Strikes
The Beirut strike capped a series of targeted killings:
- Kamel Reza Karnabsh, a Hezbollah operative rebuilding terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon, eliminated Saturday.
- Another Hezbollah agent was killed by the IDF 91st Division in Khoula, where he managed the group’s military-economic grip on local civilians—seizing private property for terror operations.
Israel’s message is clear:
No Hezbollah commander is safe. No hiding place—north, south, or deep in Beirut—will shield those who threaten Israel.
