Israel has confirmed the elimination of the chief of staff of Hezbollah, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in an airstrike on Beirut.

On Sunday evening, Israel announced that it had eliminated Haytham Ali Tabatabai, the chief of staff of Hezbollah, following an airstrike on the Haret Hreik neighborhood in southern Beirut, an area considered a stronghold of the organization. The raid, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeted a multi-story building and resulted in the deaths of at least five people and injuries to another 28, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The Israeli army described the attack as a preventive measure against Hezbollah's rearmament, noting that this was the fifth raid in southern Beirut since the ceasefire in November 2024.

Hezbollah confirmed that a high-ranking commander was targeted but did not confirm his death. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will continue to act to prevent threats from Hezbollah, while Lebanon strongly condemned the attack, calling for the international community to intervene. The incident comes a week before Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon, escalating tensions in the region.