Hezbollah’s Military Chief Haytham Tabatabai Killed by Israeli Forces

On November 23, 2024, Israeli forces killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, the top military chief of Hezbollah, in a strike on an apartment building in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, particularly following a ceasefire established in November 2024 that aimed to halt over a year of hostilities. Tabatabai’s death is noted as the most critical loss for Hezbollah since the truce, which followed a period of intense conflict, including two months of war.

Tabatabai took on the role of military chief after the deaths of several senior Hezbollah leaders during the recent conflict. His leadership was largely unknown to the Lebanese public prior to this incident, but he was one of the new commanders appointed to lead the group in the aftermath of the war. The strike also resulted in collateral damage, claiming five lives and injuring 28, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death, referring to him as “the great commander.” Before becoming military chief, he was reportedly responsible for the group’s operations concerning Yemen, as per a source close to Hezbollah who spoke with AFP. The United States has indicated that Tabatabai also operated in Syria, where he supported the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad through the group’s armed faction.

Tabatabai was based abroad before returning to Lebanon after the assassination of prominent Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in July 2024. A source revealed that he held dual citizenship, being of Iranian descent through his father and Lebanese through his mother. In 2016, the US State Department designated him as a terrorist, and a $5 million reward was offered for information leading to his capture. The US Treasury identified Tabatabai as a key military leader within Hezbollah, stating that he commanded the group’s special forces in both Syria and Yemen.

The Israeli Defense Forces described him as a veteran of Hezbollah, having joined the group in the 1980s and holding various senior positions, including leading operations in Syria. His involvement with the Houthi rebels in Yemen links him to Iran’s broader “axis of resistance” against Israel. The United Nations previously recognized Hezbollah as a major supporter of the Houthis, revealing that their fighters received training either in Iran or at Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon.

Tabatabai’s death adds to a growing list of significant Hezbollah casualties, including the deaths of key figures such as Ibrahim Aqil, who led the elite Radwan unit, and Ali Karake, a senior military commander. The ongoing conflict continues to impact the region, with Hezbollah and Israel engaging in a cycle of retaliatory actions that further complicates the situation in Lebanon and beyond.