In Escalation, IDF Says It Killed Hezbollah Military Chief in Targeted Beirut Strike

Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike in Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik on Sunday, November 23, 2025, eliminating Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s de facto chief of staff. The military described him as a veteran and central operative who previously led the Radwan Force and oversaw the group’s operations in Syria, later heading Hezbollah’s operations division during the current war. Lebanese authorities reported that the strike damaged multiple floors of a residential building, with a preliminary tally of one person killed and 21 wounded.

Officials in Jerusalem framed the operation as part of a broader effort to degrade Hezbollah’s command structure after months of escalatory fire from Lebanon. The Prime Minister’s Office said the decision followed consultations with the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff, emphasizing that Israel would act “in any place and at any time” to achieve its security objectives. The IDF released footage of the strike amid heightened alerts in the north.

Reports from the scene indicated the building was hit by several missiles, impacting vehicles and nearby structures. While Washington had anticipated a general uptick in Israeli activity against Hezbollah, US officials were not given advance notice of the timing, location, or target. Lebanese leaders called for international action to halt Israeli attacks, while Israel’s defense minister vowed continued operations to remove threats to residents of the north.

(TOI/VFI News)

“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 121:7–8