New Actor: Israel kills Hezbollah chief Haytham Tabtabai
Israel's military confirmed the killing of Haytham Tabtabai, Hezbollah's chief of staff, in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. This marks Israel's first strike on the Lebanese capital in several months.
The airstrike occurred in Haret Hreik, a neighborhood known to be a stronghold for Hezbollah. Tabtabai was identified as the second most senior figure in the group, which is backed by Iran.
This attack comes amid a backdrop of intensified Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, with reports indicating that at least 127 civilians have been killed in such strikes since a ceasefire was established a year ago.
The timing of the strike is significant, occurring just days before Pope Leo XIV's scheduled visit to Lebanon, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
Following this event, it remains to be seen how Hezbollah will respond and whether this will affect ongoing tensions between Israel and militant groups in Lebanon.
Synthesized from 18 sources
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