The funeral on Nov. 24, 2025, of Haytham Ali Tabataba'i, the senior Hezbollah commander killed by Israel the day previous, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
The Israeli strike that killed Haytham Ali Tabataba'i on Sunday — described as Hezbollah's "chief of staff" and a leading figure in the party's hardline wing — could be the last straw.This attack, which struck Beirut’s densely populated southern suburbs in the middle of the afternoon, might prompt Hezbollah to shed the restraint it has shown after enduring a year of near-daily strikes — without any retaliation.At least, this is the mood observed among Hezbollah circles and its base. But, many see such a move as essentially suicidal, giving Israel a perfect pretext to intensify its attacks on Lebanon and potentially finish off the party. Torn between these two scenarios, Hezbollah appears conflicted…This latest attack, far from insignificant, adds to a series of blows the party has absorbed. Its forced passivity now...
The Israeli strike that killed Haytham Ali Tabataba'i on Sunday — described as Hezbollah's "chief of staff" and a leading figure in the party's hardline wing — could be the last straw.This attack, which struck Beirut’s densely populated southern suburbs in the middle of the afternoon, might prompt Hezbollah to shed the restraint it has shown after enduring a year of near-daily strikes — without any retaliation.At least, this is the mood observed among Hezbollah circles and its base. But, many see such a move as essentially suicidal, giving Israel a perfect pretext to intensify its attacks on Lebanon and potentially finish off the party. Torn between these two scenarios, Hezbollah appears conflicted…This latest attack, far from insignificant, adds to a series of blows the party has absorbed. Its forced...
