Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has once again become a focal point of rising tension. Amid a fragile and uncertain peace, Israel carried out an airstrike in southern Beirut on Monday night, according to various international sources.
Israel claims the attack killed Hezbollah’s senior commander Ali Tabtabai. The organization has confirmed his death but has not released detailed information about his role. The strike is considered the first major attack near the capital in several months.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, five people were killed and 28 others injured in the explosion. Witnesses reported brief chaos as people attempted to flee the area. The airstrike targeted a multi-storey building, causing significant damage to surrounding vehicles and nearby structures.
Tabtabai was placed on a U.S. sanctions list in 2016, with Washington offering up to $5 million for information about him. The Israeli military described him as a coordinator of several Hezbollah military units and accused him of helping reorganize forces for operations against Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah would not be allowed to regain strength and warned the Lebanese government to pressure the group to disarm. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has urged the international community to intervene and take immediate steps to stop Israeli attacks.
The ceasefire declared in November 2024 had raised hopes of ending a year-long conflict. However, Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah’s weapons depots, bases, and infrastructure since then. Hezbollah claims it has not fired a single shot toward Israel since the ceasefire and maintains it remains committed to the agreement.
Long-standing friction along the Beirut–Israel axis appears to be intensifying again after this latest strike. Analysts warn that such actions carry the risk of a wider conflict across the Middle East.
