Israel Kills Hezbollah Chief of Staff in Beirut Strike, Says Group Will Not Be Allowed to Rebuild

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israel unleashed its most decisive and devastating blow in Lebanon since the 2024 ceasefire on Sunday, eliminating Hezbollah’s powerful military chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a precise airstrike deep inside Beirut. The operation — code-named “Black Friday” — struck the third and fourth floors of a building in the Haret Hreik district, the very nerve center of the Iranian-backed terrorist organization.

The IDF confirmed the killing shortly after the Prime Minister’s Office announced, “A short while ago, the IDF struck in the heart of Beirut the Hezbollah chief of staff, who led the terrorist organization’s military buildup and armament.” The statement added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strike “on the recommendation of the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff,” emphasizing that Israel “is determined to act to achieve its objectives anywhere, at any time.”

Tabatabai–considered the No. 2 man in Hezbollah after Secretary-General Naim Qassem–was a veteran operative who joined the group in the 1980s and held senior roles including commander of the Radwan Force, head of Hezbollah operations in Syria, and, during last year’s war, commander of its operations division. After the 2024 conflict, he was appointed Hezbollah’s chief of staff, responsible for rebuilding the terror army’s depleted leadership and capabilities.

In its evening statement, the IDF described him as a “key operative and veteran” who played a central role in reconstructing Hezbollah’s military machine. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said, “We struck the most senior commander in the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The strike was intended to prevent the organization from further strengthening its capabilities and to deliver a precise blow to those who attempt to harm the State of Israel.”

Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death, calling him a “great Jihadi commander” who “dedicated his life to the resistance.” The group named four additional operatives killed in the strike: Ibrahim Ali Hussein, Rifaat Ahmed Hussein, Mustafa Asaad Barrou, and Qassem Hussein Barjawi. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 28 civilians were wounded.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and urged the international community to “intervene firmly and seriously to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people.”

Netanyahu, speaking after the strike, called Tabatabai a “mass murderer” with “hands soaked in the blood of many Israelis and Americans,” noting that the United States had offered a $5 million reward for intelligence on him. “Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its strength,” he said. “I expect the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel “will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel,” adding, “Whoever raises a hand against Israel — that hand will be cut off.”

A senior American official, speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, said Washington was “pleased” with Tabatabai’s elimination, even adding in Hebrew and Arabic: “Yalla, mazal tov, mabruk.” The U.S. had known Israel was preparing to escalate operations in Lebanon, the report said, though it was not informed of the timing of this strike.

The strike comes nearly one year after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on November 27, 2024. Israel accuses Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the truce through cross-border attacks and efforts to rebuild its military infrastructure in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire understandings.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the assassination came in response to “Hezbollah’s repeated violations” and the threat Tabatabai posed to both Israel and regional stability. The ministry added that Jerusalem has reported “hundreds of violations” through the U.S.-led monitoring mechanism.

Netanyahu said that disarming Hezbollah is essential not only for Israel’s security, but for Lebanon’s future. “Only in this way can a better future be made possible for every citizen in Lebanon, and only in this way can good and secure neighborly relations be established between Israel and Lebanon.”

As Israel continues what it calls “maximum enforcement” to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding, Sunday’s strike marks a major escalation–and a clear signal that Jerusalem is prepared to act far beyond the southern border to prevent the terror group from regaining strength.

Latest Worthy News