Israel Targets Key Hezbollah Leader in Precision Strike in Beirut

On Sunday, the Israeli military executed a precision strike aimed at a significant figure within the Hezbollah terrorist organization, as confirmed by multiple reports. The target of this operation was identified as Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's military leader, a claim later substantiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, according to The Times of Israel. The decision to proceed with the attack was made following recommendations from Israel's defense minister and military chief of staff. Initial reports indicate that the strike resulted in at least one fatality and left 21 people injured, as reported by L’Orient Le Jour, which also cited the Lebanese health department. The operation took place in the Haret Hreik district, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area known for its historical connection to Hezbollah. Witness accounts describe a scene of chaos following the attack. One individual mentioned, 'I was on my way home with my sister when the attack happened. At first, I thought it was an attack on a car because I saw a vehicle ablaze, but then people started saying that it was an apartment that was the target.' Images from the neighborhood show damage to a multi-family building, with smoke billowing into the air. As of now, it remains unclear whether Haytham Ali Tabatabai was among the casualties of the strike, and Hezbollah has not yet released any comments regarding the incident. The United States has placed a bounty of up to five million dollars for information leading to Haytham Ali Tabatabai, who has been classified as a global terrorist since 2016. U.S. officials mentioned to Axios that they had no prior knowledge of the strike, suggesting it was an operation solely conducted by Israeli forces. In recent weeks, tensions have escalated in southern Lebanon, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of attempting to rearm its military capabilities. This latest attack marks the first targeting of the Lebanese capital since June, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2