On Sunday, November 23, 2025, the quiet of Beirut’s southern suburbs was shattered by the roar of Israeli fighter jets and a sudden, devastating explosion. In a strike that marked the first Israeli incursion into Lebanon’s capital since June, Israel announced it had assassinated Haytham Ali Tabatabai—also known as Ali Tabtabai—Hezbollah’s chief of staff and its No. 2 commander. The airstrike, which hit the fourth and fifth floors of a ten-story building in the densely populated Haret Hreik neighborhood, left at least five people dead and more than twenty wounded, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry (as reported by Axios and The Irish News).
The operation, dubbed "Black Friday" by Israeli officials, was executed with what military spokespeople described as "exceptional precision," targeting Tabatabai’s safe house in the heart of a Hezbollah stronghold. The strike, coming almost exactly a year after a ceasefire ended the last major Israel-Hezbollah conflict, signals a dramatic escalation in the ongoing shadow war between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group. It also comes just days before Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to Lebanon, adding a layer of tension to an already volatile situation (The Sun).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement released after the attack, said, "Israel is determined to pursue its objectives anywhere and at any time." He explained that the strike was ordered on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Netanyahu emphasized, "We will continue to do whatever is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its ability to threaten us." (Axios, The Sun)
Israeli intelligence officials claim Tabatabai was not only the mastermind behind Hezbollah’s military build-up but also the leading voice resisting the Lebanese government’s push to disarm the group. They allege he was instrumental in ending last year’s ceasefire and resuming hostilities with Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in an official statement, "Tabatabai commanded most of Hezbollah's units and worked extensively to restore their readiness for war with Israel. The IDF will act against attempts to rebuild and rearm Hezbollah and will operate forcefully to remove any threat against Israel."
For years, Tabatabai had been a high-value target for both Israel and the United States. In 2016, the U.S. State Department designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. He was known for leading Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit and for his operational roles in Syria and Yemen, working alongside pro-Iranian militias (Axios, Israel Hayom).
According to Israel Hayom, the assassination was part of a broader Israeli strategy to increase pressure on Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, which Israel accuses of failing to meet its obligations to disarm the group. Israeli intelligence asserts that Hezbollah is rearming and rebuilding its military capabilities at a pace that outstrips Israeli efforts to degrade them. As a result, Israel is reportedly preparing for a concentrated operation that could last several days, aiming to significantly weaken the organization.
The aftermath of the strike was chaotic and tense. Smoke billowed over the Haret Hreik neighborhood as crowds poured into the streets, some fleeing in fear of follow-up attacks. Rescue workers fought their way through the debris and crowds, while Lebanese troops cordoned off the area and reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse onlookers (The Sun). A video circulating on social media showed dozens of people gathering at the scene, highlighting the densely populated nature of the area and the potential for civilian casualties.
Hezbollah has not officially confirmed Tabatabai’s death. However, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, acknowledged to journalists that a high-ranking militant may have been killed. He stated, "Hezbollah’s leadership is studying the matter of response and will take the appropriate decision," adding, "The strike on the southern suburbs today opens the door to an escalation of assaults all over Lebanon." (The Irish News)
Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah parliamentarian who visited the site, told reporters, "This is definitely a civilian area and void of any military presence, especially the neighborhood where we stand." Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, accusing Israel of refusing to uphold its end of the ceasefire agreement and calling on the international community to "intervene with strength and seriousness to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people." (The Irish News, The Sun)
The strike has drawn criticism from Lebanon and United Nations peacekeepers, who accuse Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire. Lebanon’s government continues to deny Israeli claims that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capacity in the south, even as Israel and the United States increase pressure on Beirut to disarm the group. President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have both reiterated their commitment to disarming all non-state armed actors, including Hezbollah, but it remains unclear whether Israel will be satisfied with Lebanon’s efforts or agree to negotiations over disputed territories.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official told Axios that Israel did not inform the United States in advance of the Beirut strike, though the U.S. had been made aware that Israel was planning to escalate its operations in Lebanon. "We were informed immediately after the strike was carried out," the official said. Another senior official confirmed the U.S. knew of the escalation plans but not the timing, location, or specific target.
Meanwhile, Israeli security officials are reportedly assessing that Hezbollah will not immediately retaliate for Tabatabai’s assassination, though the IDF is preparing for the possibility of a broader conflict if tensions continue to rise. As of now, Israel’s Home Front Command has not issued new guidelines for civilians, but the sense of unease in both countries is palpable (Israel Hayom).
Hezbollah’s roots in Lebanon run deep. With an estimated 100,000 fighters and, according to some analysts, as many as 500,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel, the group remains a formidable adversary. Its network of tunnels, weapon stockpiles, and support from Iran have made it a persistent thorn in Israel’s side since its emergence during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The group’s history is marked by high-profile attacks, including the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed more than 300 U.S. and French troops, and a long-standing campaign of kidnappings and guerilla warfare (The Sun).
Sunday’s strike, then, is not just a tactical blow against Hezbollah’s leadership—it’s a signal that the uneasy truce along the Israel-Lebanon border remains fragile, and that the broader struggle for influence in the region is far from over. As both sides weigh their next moves, ordinary residents of Beirut and northern Israel are left holding their breath, hoping the violence does not spiral into another all-out war.