Israel carried out a targeted airstrike on Sunday in a southern suburb of Beirut, killing top military official of Hezbollah, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, the acting chief of staff, Israeli military confirmed.
In a televised statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was a precise and professional strike, emphasising that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its forces.
“Tabtabai is a murderer. His hands are stained with the blood of many Israelis and Americans,” Netanyahu said.
“The policy I lead is crystal clear: Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power, and we will not allow it to return to pose a threat to the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu also called on the Lebanese government to take responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, saying it was the only way for Lebanon’s citizens to enjoy a secure future and for Israel and Lebanon to have stable relations.
He additionally praised U.S. President Donald Trump for designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, linking the group to broader regional instability.
The strike comes despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah a year ago and marks the first Israeli attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital in months. While Hezbollah has not officially confirmed Tabtabai’s death, senior official Mahmoud Qmati acknowledged that a central figure in the organisation had been targeted.
Speaking near the damaged building in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, Qmati warned that Israel had crossed a “red line” and said the group’s leadership would decide how to respond.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to step in and prevent further escalation.
The strike highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and raises concerns about renewed instability in southern Lebanon and the wider region.
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Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed reports that Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s toppled leader, was previously offered asylum in Türkiye. “We have not received any such news,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by local media after a Cabinet meeting held Wednesday in Ankara.
Former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller has warned that Europe could face a future without U.S. nuclear deterrence.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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