The Israeli Air Force on Sunday carried out a precision strike in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, killing Haytham 'Ali Tabataba'i, Hezbollah's chief of staff and the No. 2 figure in the terrorist organization. His death has been officially confirmed. It was the first strike in Beirut since June and was conducted as part of an operation dubbed Black Friday, coordinated with the US.
Israeli officials assess that Hezbollah will not retaliate for the assassination. Washington was told that the strike fell within the terms of the ceasefire because Tabataba'i continued directing terrorist activity. As of now, there are no special instructions for the home front.
Mohammad Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said the terrorist organization would not respond to what Israel says but would examine the incident and make a decision. He claimed there was "coordination" with the Lebanese state to "put an end to Israeli aggression."
According to him, "this aggression in the Dahiyeh crosses a new red line and represents a green light from the US for escalation." He added that "a jihadi figure, a senior commander, was attacked, and we will announce the name later. All options are open after the strike, and the leadership will make the appropriate decision."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strike based on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Fighter jets executed the attack with exceptional precision, hitting the exact floor of Tabataba'i's safe house. Security officials emphasized the air force's peak readiness, noting that the operation was launched shortly after the intelligence was received.
Tabataba'i, formerly the commander of the Radwan Force and Hezbollah's southern front, was considered one of the group's most senior military leaders. The US government previously offered a five million dollar reward for information on him and designated him an international terrorist in 2016 for his activity in Syria and Yemen alongside pro-Iranian militias.
The elimination of Hezbollah's chief of staff is part of the IDF's broader strategy to increase pressure on the terrorist organization and on the Lebanese government, which has failed to meet its obligation to disarm Hezbollah.
According to Israeli intelligence, Hezbollah is rearming and rebuilding its capabilities faster than they are being degraded. Israel is therefore preparing for a concentrated operation, expected to last at least several days, to significantly weaken the terrorist organization. The understanding in Israel is that as long as Hezbollah continues trying to restore its strength, repeated actions of this kind will be necessary.
Israel is open about its intentions: both to pressure the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah and to prepare the Israeli public for the possibility that this effort may fail. As of now, the Home Front Command has not changed its guidelines, though it is likely that if a broader operation begins, the IDF will also prepare for the possibility of a Hezbollah response.
A senior security official stressed that "there are currently no signs that Hezbollah is preparing a response. The assessment is that they will not retaliate."
