Israel strikes Beirut: Top Hezbollah leader targeted in deadly airstrike

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strike in a post on X, saying: “A short while ago, in the heart of Beirut, the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief-of-Staff, who had been leading the terrorist organization's buildup and rearmament.”

He added that the operation was ordered on the recommendation of Israel’s Defense Minister and IDF Chief-of-Staff.

An Israeli source told CNN that the target was Haytham Ali Tabatabai, effectively Hezbollah’s second-in-command, though it was not immediately clear whether he was killed.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and 21 others injured in the strike, which reportedly took place in an apartment located in a busy part of the city, media reports said.

Who is Haytham Ali Tabatabai?

Tabatabai, also known as Abu Ali Tabatabai, is a senior military leader within Hezbollah.

According to the U.S. Rewards for Justice program, he has commanded Hezbollah’s special forces in Syria and Yemen, contributing to the group’s broader regional operations.

On October 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of State designated Tabatabai a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.