Israel Targets Hezbollah's Second-in-Command in Southern Beirut Suburb

The southern suburb of Beirut was targeted again on Sunday by an Israeli airstrike that killed Haitham Ali Tabtabaei, the Iranian-born "Second-in-Command" of Hezbollah. The strike resulted in 5 fatalities and 28 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

1. The Targeted Leader and Hezbollah's Response

• The Target: Israeli PM Netanyahu's office announced he ordered the strike targeting Hezbollah's "Chief of Staff," stating Tabtabaei was leading the group's "rebuilding and armament operations." Tabtabaei was a former commander of the "Radwan Force" and is a US-designated terrorist with a $5 million bounty.

• Hezbollah's Mourning: Hezbollah mourned the "Great Jihadi Commander" but did not explicitly vow retaliation in its initial statement.

• Potential Response: Mahmoud Qamati, head of the group's Political Council, stated that "all possibilities are open, and the leadership will make the appropriate decision regarding the response," adding that Sunday's aggression "crossed a new red line."

2. Lebanese Official Positions

• President Aoun: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the strike "additional proof" of Israel's disregard for international calls. He renewed his plea for the international community to "intervene strongly and seriously to stop the aggression."

• PM Salam: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for unifying efforts behind the state, emphasizing that the path to stability is through the "full implementation of Resolution 1701" and asserting state authority.

• US Stance: A senior US official reported that Israel did not notify Washington in advance of the operation, only briefing them after execution.