A significant explosion rocked the southern suburbs of Beirut earlier today, following an Israeli military strike. Israel claims the operation was a precise targeting of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander. The attack reportedly resulted in injuries to several individuals.
Eyewitness reports describe a powerful blast followed by Israeli aircraft activity over the area. This marks a notable escalation after days of intensified strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Israeli media outlets have identified the target as Abu Haitham al-Tabatabai, also known as Abu Ali al-Tabatabai, allegedly the second-in-command within Hezbollah. However, sources within Hezbollah dispute this characterization, stating that the individual targeted was a prominent military leader but not holding the described rank.
Channel 12 reported that this was Israel’s third attempt to eliminate al-Tabatabai during the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation cited a political source claiming that Washington was notified prior to the attack.
Axios, however, quoted a senior U.S. official stating, “Israel did not notify us in advance of the attack on the southern suburbs. We were notified immediately after it occurred.” The official added, “We have known for days that Israel was planning to escalate in Lebanon, but we did not know the timing of the strike.”
According to Israeli Army Radio, the Chief of Staff was summoned to oversee the operation following intelligence regarding the target’s location in the southern suburbs.
This development coincides with renewed pledges from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He asserted that his government would “do whatever is necessary” to prevent both groups from rebuilding their strength or threatening Israeli security.
“This week, the army struck targets in Lebanon, and we will continue to act without hesitation to prevent Hezbollah from entrenching its ability to threaten us,” Netanyahu stated at the beginning of the government’s weekly meeting earlier today.
Throughout the past week, the Israeli military has intensified its strikes on targets in Lebanon, claiming to have bombed rocket launching sites and weapons depots belonging to Hezbollah. Saturday marked one of the deadliest days since the commencement of the truce between Israel and Hamas.
