“A short time ago, the Israel Defense Forces attacked the Hezbollah chief of staff in the heart of Beirut, who was in charge of rebuilding Hezbollah’s military capabilities and rearmament efforts,” the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, according to The Times of Israel.
“The prime minister ordered the attack on the recommendation of the defense minister and the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Israel is determined to act to achieve its goals,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
According to The Times of Israel, Tabatabai holds the position of chief of staff of Hezbollah’s armed forces.
A reporter from the Reuters agency said that the blow hit the main road and the engines of fighter jets could be heard before the explosion. Five people were killed, another 28 were injured, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.
The Israeli army confirmed the attack on a prominent member of Hezbollah in Beirut.
The attack was carried out at a time of growing tension, when Israel repeatedly attacked Hezbollah positions because it violated the year-old ceasefire and resisted Lebanon’s efforts to disarm it. However, he avoided attacks on Beirut.
Israel did not inform the United States about the attack, a senior American official said. Although the Americans knew that Israel would increase its attacks in Lebanon, they did not know the details, that is, when, how and who would be the target.
