- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 23 Nov 2025 10:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Israel launched a massive strike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, targeting what it described as a major Hezbollah command facility. According to multiple Israeli media outlets citing by Reuters, the strike killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff Ali Tabtabai, marking one of the most significant assassinations since the end of last year’s Israel–Hezbollah war. At least five people were killed and dozens wounded, Lebanese emergency teams reported.
Tabtabai has been on the radar of Western intelligence agencies for years. The United States placed him under sanctions in 2016, describing him as one of Hezbollah’s most influential military leaders and even announcing a reward of up to USD 5 million for any credible information that could help locate him.
⭕️A short while ago, the IDF conducted a precise strike targeting a key Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 23, 2025
Israeli officials described the operation as part of a wider campaign across southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from “rearming and rebuilding” its military infrastructure. The blast hit Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, and was followed by multiple Israeli strikes on suspected militant positions in the south.
Israel said Tabtabai was overseeing Hezbollah’s efforts to consolidate forces along the border and revive its operational capabilities, which Israel claims have been quietly expanding in violation of the 2023 US-brokered ceasefire. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have not confirmed the death of Tabtabai, but the group condemned the attack as a “dangerous escalation.”
Israel: ‘We Will Act Forcefully’
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strike was part of Israel’s ongoing efforts to neutralise threats along its northern frontier. “We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the state of Israel,” Katz said.
Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian declined to say whether the United States was informed before the strike, asserting that “Israel makes decisions independently.”
Earlier on Sunday, PM Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that Israel would continue operations against what he called “terrorist threats” on multiple fronts. “We will continue to do whatever is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its ability to threaten us,” Netanyahu said.