An Israeli airstrike on Beirut has killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s second-most senior commander, in one of the most consequential targeted attacks since the fragile ceasefire of November 2025.

Israel confirmed the strike on Monday, describing Tabatabai as a “key operational leader,” while Lebanese officials warned of escalating dangers. The attack hit an apartment block in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, a longtime Hezbollah stronghold.

Two missiles struck the building on al-Arid Street, sending debris flying across the densely populated area and damaging nearby vehicles and homes. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said at least five people were killed and 28 others injured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the assassination, calling Tabatabai “a central figure in Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.” Israeli officials have long described him as the group’s de facto chief of staff, second only to Secretary General Naim Qassem.

Hezbollah acknowledged Tabatabai’s death in a statement, praising him as “the great commander” and condemning what it called a “treacherous Israeli attack” in Haret Hreik.

The group said he was the most senior figure killed since the ceasefire agreement took effect, a deal that required Hezbollah to pull its forces from southern Lebanon under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The strike has renewed questions about the durability of that agreement, already under strain amid intermittent cross-border fire. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati said Israel had crossed a “red line” and warned that the group’s leadership was considering “all options” in response. He suggested that the assassination could lead to a wider escalation of attacks across Lebanon.

Born in Beirut in 1968 to a Lebanese mother and an Iranian father, Tabatabai joined Hezbollah at age 12 and rose to become one of its most experienced battlefield commanders.

He led the group’s special forces units in Syria and later in Yemen, where he was accused of coordinating training and weapons deliveries to Houthi fighters. The United States had offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his location.

For many regional observers, his death marks a significant blow to Hezbollah’s operational command structure. Analysts say Tabatabai was central to the group’s efforts to regroup and rebuild after months of losses in Syria and increasing Israeli pressure along the Lebanese border.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the strike occurred shortly after midnight, igniting fires in several nearby buildings. Rescue crews worked through the night to pull victims from the rubble as security forces sealed off the area, fearing additional strikes.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, calling it a “grave violation of Lebanese sovereignty” and urging the international community to take “decisive action” to stop Israeli operations. “Lebanon cannot withstand a return to full-scale conflict,” he said, warning that continued escalation would destabilize the broader region.

The killing also rekindles memories of Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah’s longtime leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah just over a year ago, also in southern Beirut. That attack shook the organisation’s leadership and triggered months of internal restructuring.

While Hezbollah eventually named Naim Qassem as Secretary General, analysts say the group has struggled to restore the command cohesion it once had.

The latest strike comes amid heightened tensions, as Israel intensifies its operations against Hezbollah’s leadership while the militant group attempts to reassert control in areas vacated under the ceasefire. Israeli security officials have argued that Hezbollah has been rebuilding weapons stockpiles in violation of the agreement.

International reaction to Tabatabai’s killing remained cautious, with UN officials urging all sides to exercise restraint. Diplomats worry that another cycle of retaliation could unravel what remains of the ceasefire and draw the region into a deeper conflict.

As Beirut residents surveyed the damage, many expressed fear that the city could once again become a battleground. The echoes of explosions, they said, felt like a return to darker days.

For now, Hezbollah’s leadership has promised a response — though when and how it will come remains uncertain. What is clear is that the strike has opened another chapter in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.