Hezbollah has confirmed senior commander Haitham Ali Tabatabai was killed in an Israeli air strike on a suburban area of Beirut on Sunday. The group said “the great commander” was killed in “a treacherous Israeli attack on the Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs”.
Mr Tabatabai was deputy to Hezbollah secretary general Naim Qassem and is the most senior Hezbollah commander killed by Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire came into force.
“His great sacrifice will bring renewed hope, determination and strength to his fellow fighters, and reinforce their resolve to continue the path,” Hezbollah said.
Four other Hezbollah members were killed in the attack, the group confirmed.
About 1,000 people crowded into a cramped square in Ghobeiry in Beirut's southern suburbs for Mr Tabatabai's funeral as an Israeli drone hovered above, while thousands more lined the streets outside as his coffin was brought through the area to be buried nearby.
“I wish they could respond, but we know what will happen if they do,” said mourner Hussein Yazbek, referring to the likelihood of heavy Israeli reprisals if Hezbollah were to hit back. Hezbollah has said any response will be decided by the leadership of the group.
“I feel like we only gather for tragedies rather than positive events,” said one Hezbollah official at the funeral.
When Fouad Shukr, Hezbollah's top military leader was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut last summer, the group responded by launching hundreds of missiles at Israel. Now, Hezbollah finds itself in a very different situation, weakened and in a precarious position.
The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly called for negotiations with Israel, including under US or UN mediation, to resolve a host of issues.
Ali Daamoush, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council, warned the government that all “concessions” by the Lebanese government to calm the situation had failed. Lebanese officials have repeatedly criticised Israel for responding to negotiation overtures by increasing attacks on Lebanon.
“The Israeli enemy has repeatedly miscalculated in assuming that assassinating commanders would weaken Hezbollah. Such losses only reinforce the movement’s resolve,” said Mr Daamoush, who led the funeral prayers.
The strike on an apartment building in a busy area of Beirut came after about five months of calm in the city's
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