- A major escalation was triggered by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, along with several other members of the group. This was the first Israeli attack on Beirut in months.
- Hezbollah has issued a severe threat in response, vowing that Israel “should be worried” and that the assassination will only strengthen their resolve. They have dismissed ceasefire talks unless Israeli attacks stop completely.
- The assassinated commander was a highly significant figure. Tabatabai was a seasoned career operative who helped build Hezbollah’s elite forces and was a key part of its leadership after previous senior figures were killed.
- This event is part of a wider pattern of escalating violence. Since a recent ceasefire, Israel has conducted near-daily attacks in Lebanon, killing hundreds. While Hezbollah has shown restraint so far, the situation is now extremely tense, with Israel on high alert for retaliation.
- The path to peace is blocked by major political pressures. The Lebanese government is caught between U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah by force, a move that could cause civil war, and Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm until Israeli attacks end. The region is braced for a potentially larger conflict, as Hezbollah promises it will choose its own time to respond.
Tensions in the Middle East have sharply escalated following a targeted Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut, an attack that has drawn a severe warning from the Lebanese militant and political group Hezbollah, signaling that a dangerous new chapter in the conflict may be imminent.
In a recent airstrike that reverberated through the Lebanese capital, Israel killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, along with four other members of the group. The attack, which injured 28 civilians, including women and children, marked the first Israeli assault on Beirut since June and prompted a starkly worded threat from a top Hezbollah official.
During Tabatabai’s funeral in Beirut’s Ghobeiry area, Ali Daamoush, the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, declared that Israel “should be worried.” Daamoush added that the assassination was a “grave crime” that would not weaken the group but instead reinforce its resolve.
Daamoush’s eulogy served as both a tribute and a threat, vowing that Hezbollah would remain “in the field defending Lebanon” and dismissing any diplomatic proposals unless Israel commits to a ceasefire.
The shadow commander: Haytham Ali Tabatabai
The assassination has thrust the previously low-profile military commander into the spotlight. Haitham Ali Tabatabai, also known by his nom de guerre Sayyid Abu Ali, was a career operative who had devoted his life to Hezbollah.
Born in 1968, he joined the group in the 1980s shortly after its formation in response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.
As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Tabatabai was a product of the long-running conflict, rising through the ranks through decades of warfare. He was a seasoned field operator, having participated in operations against Israeli forces in occupied southern Lebanon.
Tabatabai’s leadership roles were both strategic and critical; he commanded the Nabatieh axis from 1996 until the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, and later led the Khiam axis, including during the intense 34-day July War in 2006.
Tabatabai’s expertise was instrumental in establishing Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, and his responsibilities later expanded to include operations along the border with Syria. According to Israeli media, this was the third attempt on his life, with two prior attempts occurring during last year’s war.
His appointment as chief of staff came after that conflict, which saw the killing of many of Hezbollah’s senior military leaders, positioning him as a key figure in the group’s rebuilt command structure.
A pattern of escalation
The weekend strike is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of escalation. It was the first attack on Beirut since June, when Israeli airstrikes destroyed several buildings in its suburbs, claiming they housed Hezbollah drone facilities.
Since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, the Israeli military has attacked Lebanon almost daily, killing more than 300 people, many of them civilians.
Despite this sustained campaign, Hezbollah’s military response has been notably measured. The group has not carried out a military operation since firing warning shots in early December last year.
This restraint, however, appears to be wearing thin. Israeli media reports indicate that Tel Aviv is on high alert, having raised the alert level of its air defense systems in the north in anticipation of retaliation.
Security assessments suggest that while a direct, large-scale exchange of strikes may not be immediately expected, Israel is preparing for other possible reactions. These could include attacks on Israeli targets abroad or strikes launched from other fronts, such as Yemen.
There is a growing concern that Hezbollah, feeling backed into a corner, may feel compelled to choose its own time and method for a significant response.
The political landscape further complicates the path to de-escalation. The Lebanese government is caught between immense external pressure and internal division.
The United States is aggressively pressuring the state to disarm Hezbollah by force, a move that Hezbollah lawmakers have labeled absurd” and which risks triggering a civil war. Hezbollah itself has rejected a cabinet decision calling for its full disarmament, stating that it is only willing to discuss integrating its weapons into a national defense strategy once Israeli attacks cease and the occupied territories are returned.
As thousands mourned Tabatabai under the ominous presence of Israeli drones flying over the funeral procession, the message from Hezbollah was clear: their patience is strategic, not perpetual. The group insists it will choose the moment for confrontation.
With Israel signaling it will continue its campaign of targeted assassinations and Hezbollah warning that its enemy “should be worried,” the region holds its breath, fearing that the next strike could ignite a fire that diplomatic efforts may no longer contain.
Watch this clip about how Hezbollah reels under Israel pressure.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
TheCradle.co
AlJazeera.com
BBC.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
Read full article here
Hezbollah warns Israel “should be worried” after Beirut assassination strikes
- A major escalation was triggered by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, along with several other members of the group. This was the first Israeli attack on Beirut in months.
- Hezbollah has issued a severe threat in response, vowing that Israel “should be worried” and that the assassination will only strengthen their resolve. They have dismissed ceasefire talks unless Israeli attacks stop completely.
- The assassinated commander was a highly significant figure. Tabatabai was a seasoned career operative who helped build Hezbollah’s elite forces and was a key part of its leadership after previous senior figures were killed.
- This event is part of a wider pattern of escalating violence. Since a recent ceasefire, Israel has conducted near-daily attacks in Lebanon, killing hundreds. While Hezbollah has shown restraint so far, the situation is now extremely tense, with Israel on high alert for retaliation.
- The path to peace is blocked by major political pressures. The Lebanese government is caught between U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah by force, a move that could cause civil war, and Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm until Israeli attacks end. The region is braced for a potentially larger conflict, as Hezbollah promises it will choose its own time to respond.
Tensions in the Middle East have sharply escalated following a targeted Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut, an attack that has drawn a severe warning from the Lebanese militant and political group Hezbollah, signaling that a dangerous new chapter in the conflict may be imminent.
In a recent airstrike that reverberated through the Lebanese capital, Israel killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, along with four other members of the group. The attack, which injured 28 civilians, including women and children, marked the first Israeli assault on Beirut since June and prompted a starkly worded threat from a top Hezbollah official.
During Tabatabai’s funeral in Beirut’s Ghobeiry area, Ali Daamoush, the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, declared that Israel “should be worried.” Daamoush added that the assassination was a “grave crime” that would not weaken the group but instead reinforce its resolve.
Daamoush’s eulogy served as both a tribute and a threat, vowing that Hezbollah would remain “in the field defending Lebanon” and dismissing any diplomatic proposals unless Israel commits to a ceasefire.
The shadow commander: Haytham Ali Tabatabai
The assassination has thrust the previously low-profile military commander into the spotlight. Haitham Ali Tabatabai, also known by his nom de guerre Sayyid Abu Ali, was a career operative who had devoted his life to Hezbollah.
Born in 1968, he joined the group in the 1980s shortly after its formation in response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.
As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, Tabatabai was a product of the long-running conflict, rising through the ranks through decades of warfare. He was a seasoned field operator, having participated in operations against Israeli forces in occupied southern Lebanon.
Tabatabai’s leadership roles were both strategic and critical; he commanded the Nabatieh axis from 1996 until the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, and later led the Khiam axis, including during the intense 34-day July War in 2006.
Tabatabai’s expertise was instrumental in establishing Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, and his responsibilities later expanded to include operations along the border with Syria. According to Israeli media, this was the third attempt on his life, with two prior attempts occurring during last year’s war.
His appointment as chief of staff came after that conflict, which saw the killing of many of Hezbollah’s senior military leaders, positioning him as a key figure in the group’s rebuilt command structure.
A pattern of escalation
The weekend strike is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of escalation. It was the first attack on Beirut since June, when Israeli airstrikes destroyed several buildings in its suburbs, claiming they housed Hezbollah drone facilities.
Since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, the Israeli military has attacked Lebanon almost daily, killing more than 300 people, many of them civilians.
Despite this sustained campaign, Hezbollah’s military response has been notably measured. The group has not carried out a military operation since firing warning shots in early December last year.
This restraint, however, appears to be wearing thin. Israeli media reports indicate that Tel Aviv is on high alert, having raised the alert level of its air defense systems in the north in anticipation of retaliation.
Security assessments suggest that while a direct, large-scale exchange of strikes may not be immediately expected, Israel is preparing for other possible reactions. These could include attacks on Israeli targets abroad or strikes launched from other fronts, such as Yemen.
There is a growing concern that Hezbollah, feeling backed into a corner, may feel compelled to choose its own time and method for a significant response.
The political landscape further complicates the path to de-escalation. The Lebanese government is caught between immense external pressure and internal division.
The United States is aggressively pressuring the state to disarm Hezbollah by force, a move that Hezbollah lawmakers have labeled absurd” and which risks triggering a civil war. Hezbollah itself has rejected a cabinet decision calling for its full disarmament, stating that it is only willing to discuss integrating its weapons into a national defense strategy once Israeli attacks cease and the occupied territories are returned.
As thousands mourned Tabatabai under the ominous presence of Israeli drones flying over the funeral procession, the message from Hezbollah was clear: their patience is strategic, not perpetual. The group insists it will choose the moment for confrontation.
With Israel signaling it will continue its campaign of targeted assassinations and Hezbollah warning that its enemy “should be worried,” the region holds its breath, fearing that the next strike could ignite a fire that diplomatic efforts may no longer contain.
Watch this clip about how Hezbollah reels under Israel pressure.
This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
TheCradle.co
AlJazeera.com
BBC.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
Read full article here