Israel Says It Killed Senior Hezbollah Commander in First Beirut Strike in Months. Israel launches its first strike on Beirut since June, claiming it killed Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in a targeted operation. The strike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing five people and wounding 25, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Israel warns Hezbollah not to rebuild or rearm a year after their most recent war, saying Tabtabai oversaw efforts to restore units to “war readiness.” Hezbollah has not confirmed the killing but says the attack risks triggering a wider escalation just days before Pope Leo XIV’s visit. Tabtabai, previously designated a terrorist by the U.S., led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit and was seen as the successor to Ibrahim Aqil, killed in 2024. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemns the strike, accusing Israel of violating ceasefire terms and calling for international intervention. Residents and Hezbollah officials say the area struck was a civilian neighborhood, while Israel increases pressure for Hezbollah’s disarmament. The strike follows rising tensions and intensified Israeli operations across Lebanon, including a recent attack that killed 13 people in Ein el-Hilweh camp.