Hezbollah warns of retaliation for Israeli killing of senior commander

Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has declared the group reserves the right to respond to Israel's killing of top commander Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, describing the strike as a "deliberate crime." The warning came during a memorial service for the commander killed in Sunday's airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs.
Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general has issued a stern warning that the Lebanese group will retaliate for Israel's killing of senior commander Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai. Naim Qassem, speaking at a memorial service on Friday, characterized Sunday's Israeli airstrike that killed Tabtabai in Beirut's southern suburbs as a "deliberate crime" and asserted Hezbollah's right to determine the timing and nature of its response.
The Attack and Casualties
The Israeli airstrike that resulted in Tabtabai's death occurred on Sunday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. The attack caused significant casualties beyond the senior commander, leaving five people dead and 25 others wounded according to local reports. Hezbollah officially confirmed Tabtabai's death, identifying him as the group's chief of staff, a position indicating his seniority within the organization's military structure.
Hezbollah's Response Strategy
Qassem's comments marked his first public reaction to the targeted killing and emphasized that Hezbollah maintains the prerogative to choose when and how to respond. "What happened is a blatant attack and a deliberate crime, and we have the right to respond – we will determine the timing ourselves," Qassem stated during the memorial event, underscoring the group's intention to control the escalation dynamics in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Regional Context
The killing of Tabtabai represents one of the most significant targeted strikes against Hezbollah leadership in recent months, escalating tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border. The incident occurs amid continued cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli forces that have persisted since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, raising concerns about the potential for broader regional confrontation.
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