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By Charbel Mallo and Dana Karni
(CNN) — The Israeli military has conducted an air strike on southern Beirut, the first since early June, targeting Hezbollah’s second most senior figure.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF struck “in the heart of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, who led the organization’s buildup and armament efforts.”
An Israeli source told CNN that the target of the attack was Haytham Ali Tabatabai, effectively Hezbollah’s second-in-command, but said it was not clear yet if he was killed.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported one person had been killed and 21 injured in the strike, which took place among apartment buildings in a crowded area of southern Beirut.
Images from the scene showed smoke coming from the fourth or fifth floor of an apartment building in a crowded part of southern Beirut.
Netanyahu ordered the strike based on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff, his office said.
“We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and to the State of Israel,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, adding: “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel — his hand will be cut off.”
An Israeli strike on southern Beirut in September 2024 killed Hezbollah’s long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Israeli strikes have hollowed out the group’s military leadership.Israel also blew up pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, killing dozens of people.
A ceasefire was agreed through US mediation a year ago, but Israeli forces have continued to strike Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley.
The United States designated Tabatabai as a terrorist in 2016, saying he was a key Hezbollah military leader “who has commanded the group’s special forces in both Syria and Yemen.”
The US Rewards for Justice program offered up to $5 million for information on Tabatabai.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah is meant to surrender its heavy weapons and withdraw all personnel from south of the Litani river.
There has been little progress on disarmament, leading Israeli officials to warn that military action will be stepped up unless the Lebanese government moves to curb Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel earlier this month of sparing “no effort to show its rejection of any negotiated settlement between the two countries.”
The-CNN-Wire
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