What Do We Know About the Assassination of Hezbollah Leader Abu Ali Al-Tabtabai?

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A powerful explosion shook the southern suburbs of Beirut this afternoon, following an airstrike by the occupying army, which Israel claimed targeted a prominent Hezbollah leader "precisely," in an attack that also resulted in several injuries.

What happened?

An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing a strong explosion that shook the area this afternoon.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported hearing a loud explosion followed by the sound of Israeli aircraft flying over the region.

Who is the target?

Israeli media reported from sources that the target of the operation in the southern suburbs is Haitham Ali Al-Tabtabai (known as Abu Ali Al-Tabtabai), the second-in-command in Hezbollah.

Channel 12 in Israel stated that Israel attempted to eliminate Al-Tabtabai twice during the war, and this is the third attempt.

In contrast, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Beirut reported from sources within the party that they do not have this description and that the intended target is a prominent military leader.

Who is Al-Tabtabai?

According to circulating information about Al-Tabtabai, he is considered one of the architects of the elite forces and participated in the Syrian war on multiple combat fronts. He later sought to enhance the party's field presence in southern Syria and attempted to assassinate him in Quneitra about 10 years ago.

Additional information indicates that Al-Tabtabai was a key player in managing the "support war" that Hezbollah executed to support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza during the war with Israel, and Israel attempted to eliminate him after the assassination of Fouad Shukr.

After the ceasefire agreement, he took over the military leadership of the party and was linked to attempts to smuggle weapons through secret lines from Syria.

How was the airstrike executed?

The Israeli occupying army stated that the airstrike was carried out "precisely," and Channel 12 in Israel clarified that the 4th and 5th floors of a 10-story building on Al-Areed Street in Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs were targeted.

Did Israel inform the U.S.?

The broadcasting authority reported from a political source that Tel Aviv informed Washington before the attack, but Axios reported a senior American official saying, "Israel did not inform us in advance about the attack on the southern suburbs and we were notified immediately after it occurred."

According to the American official, Washington had known for days that Israel was planning to escalate in Lebanon but was unaware of the timing of the strike.

What did Netanyahu say about the strike?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court, stated at the beginning of the weekly government meeting today that the army struck targets in Lebanon this week, affirming the continuation of efforts "without hesitation to prevent Hezbollah from consolidating its ability to threaten us."