Israel targets Hezbollah military leader in Beirut strike, at least 4 killed
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Israel carried out an airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut in Southet, where a senior official of the youth group Hezbollah was targeted, despite the cessation of hostilities between the two parties last year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike, the first in Beirut in months, targeted the head of a Lebanese party – aligned with Iran. An Israeli source involved in the strike and a Lebanese source said Hezbollah’s Ali Tabtabai fired the stone.
The United States placed sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, identifying him as a key leader of Hezbollah and offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on him.
At least four people were killed in the strike that injured twenty-two, who were taken to nearby hospitals, said medical sources. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
It was not immediately clear if Thebtabai was killed.
Hezbollah said the strike, which began almost a year after the end of the Israel-Hezbollah offensive, threatened to escalate the attack – just days before Pope Leo XIV was scheduled to visit Lebanon on his foreign tour.
Mahmoud Qamati, Hezbollah’s Vice Chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, told reporters that a large number of people may have been killed but did not provide details.
“Hezbollah’s leadership is studying the issue of response and will take the right decision,” said Qamati at the scene of the attack. “The strike in the southern suburbs today opens the door to increased attacks on Lebanon.”
The strike hits the highway
After the strike, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to intervene to stop the attack on Israel and prevent further deterioration of the security situation.
Israel has carried out strikes near Lebanon since it began operations in November 2024, targeting what it says are Hezbollah Arms Depots, the group’s efforts to rebuild and each war. But targeted strikes on top officials like Tabtabai were rare.
The strike hit a major road in Haret Hreik Suburbi, where residents told Reuters they heard the roar of warplanes before the explosion.
People rushed to their apartment buildings because of fear where there would be pressure, the reporter of its students.
Israel says it will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild
“Israel continues to insist on the full termination of its ceasefire agreements while taking measures to ensure our security,” Israeli government spokesman Shosh Bedrosian told reporters after the strike.
“We will not allow Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, to recover and rebuild its power and threaten Israel from anywhere inside Lebanon.”
Asked if Israel had informed the US before conducting the strike, Bedrosian said that Israel could do so independently.
Two years ago, Israel killed the leader of Hezbollah Nasrallah, the main leadership of this group of this group of this group of the poor of almost 5,000 of its fighters. Israel said the strikes were necessary to defend against Hezbollah attacks.
The war group has been accused by Israel of repeatedly violating the law that the US has organized.
Under the cease fire, Hezbollah is asked to end its military presence in the southern border region near Israel, and the Israeli army must withdraw from Lebanon.
Israel, whose troops still occupy five positions in southern Lebanon, accuses Hezbollah of trying to regroup there. Hezbollah said it was humble about the fire attack. It has not fired from Israel since the fire started.
In November, Israel increased its airstrikes in South Lebanon as it pressed a campaign of near-daily attacks that it says are designed to prevent the renewal of forces by Hezbollah on the border.
