At least four additional Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza as Israel prepares for potential retaliation from Hezbollah following an airstrike in Beirut over the weekend. Hezbollah leaders are contemplating a response after the death of their chief of staff and experienced fighter, Haytham Tabtabai, in the southern part of the capital on Sunday.
Israel justified the attack by labeling Tabtabai as the “master of murders,” citing his involvement as a longtime Hezbollah member aiding in the network’s re-armament. Reports suggest that Hezbollah’s Iranian backers are supplying the group with over £1 billion in resources.
The airstrike, the first in Beirut since June, reportedly resulted in the deaths of five individuals and left at least 25 others injured. Hezbollah confirmed Tabtabai’s demise and issued a warning of potential escalation just before the scheduled visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to take strong actions to protect residents and the country from threats. Hezbollah’s senior official Mahmoud Qmati condemned Israel’s attack as crossing a “red line,” prompting the group’s leadership to consider a response.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has now claimed over 70,000 lives and left 170,863 individuals wounded since its outbreak in October 2023. Hamas initiated the conflict by attacking southern Israel, resulting in casualties and kidnappings. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have intensified as pressure mounts on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, which Israel accuses of rebuilding its military capabilities.
Hezbollah has refrained from attacking Israel during the ceasefire, except for minor incidents. The group’s leadership is currently evaluating its response options following recent developments. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel for not upholding the ceasefire agreement and called for international intervention to halt the attacks.
Lebanon expressed readiness for negotiations with Israel to end airstrikes and reiterated its commitment to disarm all non-state actors, including Hezbollah. The latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict began in October 2023, triggered by previous hostilities. Recent military actions have significantly impacted Hezbollah, prompting internal disciplinary measures within the Israeli army.
The failures in protecting civilians during past attacks led to the sanctioning and retirement of top military officials. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the need for accountability and command responsibility to prevent such failures in the future.