Netanyahu confirms Hezbollah military leader killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

In a short a televised statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (November 23) that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its forces and that he expected the Lebanese government "to fulfil its obligation to disarm Hezbollah."

AI Brief

Israeli airstrike in Beirut suburb targets Hezbollah's acting chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabtabai amid rising tensions.
Hezbollah confirms a senior figure was hit and warns Israel crossed a -red line,- signaling possible retaliation.
Lebanese President urges international community to stop Israeli attacks as fears of escalation grow.

Israel killed armed group Hezbollah's top military official in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, the Israeli military said, despite a U.S.-brokered truce a year ago.

The strike, the first on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital in months, targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah's acting chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, the military said in a statement.

There was no immediate confirmation of his killing from Hezbollah, although senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati confirmed a central figure from the group had been targeted.

Speaking near the bombed-out building in the Haret Hreik suburb, he said Israel's strike crossed a "red line." Qmati said Hezbollah's leadership would decide on whether and how the group would respond.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the international community to intervene to halt Israeli attacks.