The precarious rules of engagement governing the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah have been shattered this evening, following a high-precision Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s Southern Suburb (Dahiyeh) that has left at least five people dead and 28 others wounded.
A Lebanese security source has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the strike successfully assassinated Haitham Ali Tabtabai (known as Abu Ali Tabtabai), a top-tier Hezbollah military commander. Israeli Channel 12, citing a high-ranking security official, declared the operation a “successful elimination,” noting that this was Israel’s third attempt to kill the elusive commander during the current war.
The attack, which leveled a residential apartment, has drawn a furious response from Hezbollah’s political leadership. Mahmoud Qamati, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Political Council, declared that “today’s aggression crossed a new red line.” While Qamati initially stated the group was verifying the identity of the target, he issued a stark warning regarding the inevitable retaliation: “The Resistance is the one that decides how to respond to this aggression.”
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health released an updated toll, confirming five martyrs and 28 injuries, many of whom were civilians caught in the blast radius in the densely populated Haret Hreik neighborhood.
The timing of the strike appears driven by growing Israeli anxiety over Hezbollah’s resilience. A U.S. official speaking to Al Jazeera revealed a startling assessment: despite months of heavy bombardment, Hezbollah has managed to “rebuild its capabilities and weapons stockpiles” lost earlier in the war. “Hezbollah’s capabilities have strengthened rather than diminished,” the official stated, adding that this regeneration has fueled Israel’s fears regarding the sustainability of any ceasefire, pushing Tel Aviv to increase the tempo of its strikes.
The U.S. official further noted that Washington remains engaged through the “Quintet” mechanism, increasing meetings to twice a month in a bid to salvage diplomatic progress, though today’s escalation significantly complicates those efforts.
In Beirut, the political establishment is scrambling to contain the fallout. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued an urgent call for national unity, stating that the “protection of the Lebanese people and preventing the country from sliding into dangerous paths is our priority in this delicate phase.” He vowed to continue working through all diplomatic channels to prevent an all-out explosion, but with a senior commander dead in the capital and Hezbollah promising a decision on the battlefield, the path to de-escalation has never looked narrower.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
