Beirut, Lebanon – A senior Hezbollah official has vowed to retaliate against Israel following the assassination of commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai. Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, stated that the organization reserves the right to respond “at the appropriate time.”
Speaking at a memorial service held in Beirut, Qassem condemned the assassination as a “blatant act of aggression and a calculated crime.” He emphasized Hezbollah’s right to respond and asserted that the timing of any retaliation would be determined by the group itself.
Qassem also accused Israel of relying on intelligence gathered through espionage and foreign actors operating within Lebanon. “We are in an open arena due to international coverage and the influx of foreign nationals, even some Arab intelligence services, which unfortunately contribute to providing the Israeli enemy with the information it seeks,” he stated.
Tabatabai was killed four days ago in a residential building in Haret Hreik, a suburb in southern Beirut. He was reportedly the military commander of Hezbollah, succeeding Fouad Shukr, who was assassinated last year.
Born in 1968 to an Iranian father and a Lebanese mother, Tabatabai grew up in southern Lebanon before joining Hezbollah. His name first surfaced in the media in 2015 after surviving an alleged Israeli assassination attempt in Quneitra, Syria.
The assassination occurs amid heightened tensions, with Israel repeatedly conducting strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have stated they will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its military capabilities. This also comes amidst increasing pressure from the United States on the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
Qassem called on the Lebanese government to develop a comprehensive plan to confront Israel in light of the assassination. The security situation in the region remains volatile following the incident.
