An Israeli airstrike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday without prior warning – the first such attack on the Lebanese capital since the November 2024 ceasefire – raising fears of renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Local media reported that the strike struck an apartment building in Haret Hreik, a densely populated neighbourhood in the Dahieh district south of central Beirut.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed the operation, stating it targeted “Hezbollah’s chief of staff” in “the heart of Beirut.”
Israeli outlets identified the intended target as Haytham Ali Tabatabai, describing him as the group’s de facto military commander and second-in-command after Secretary-General Naim Qassem.
Hezbollah has not yet issued an official statement, though a source within the group told Al-Araby TV that a senior figure had been targeted, without confirming the individual’s identity.
Initial reports indicate several people were wounded in the strike, though it remains unclear whether there were any fatalities.
The attack marks a significant escalation. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November 2024, ending a devastating conflict that had erupted into full-scale war in September 2024.
During that war, Israel eliminated Hezbollah’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, his deputy, and numerous other high-ranking commanders – inflicting severe damage on the group’s command structure.
Despite the truce, Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, conducting over two dozen airstrikes inside Lebanese territory.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, at least 331 people have been killed and around 1,000 injured since November 2024.
While most strikes have been concentrated in southern Lebanon, Israel has occasionally targeted Dahieh – though typically after issuing evacuation warnings. Sunday’s strike, however, came with no such notice.
Hezbollah has refrained from retaliation for nearly a year, adhering to the ceasefire despite mounting pressure.
But recent statements from Israeli officials and media – suggesting plans for another major offensive to counter Hezbollah’s alleged rearmament – have heightened regional tensions.
Observers warn that this unannounced strike on Beirut could signal a dangerous shift in Israel’s strategy and test the fragile calm that has held along the border for the past 12 months.
Source: Middle East Eye