Israel's Air Strike on Beirut (November 2025)

Israel’s Air Strike on Beirut is an aerial operation carried out by the Israeli military on 23 November 2025 against the Dahieh district in southern Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to 28 others. The attack is the first Israeli strike on Beirut since the ceasefire agreement entered into force in November 2024, and the target of the operation was Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff of its military wing, Haythem (Ali) Tabatabai.

Course of the Attack and Target Area

The attack targeted an apartment building in the Haret Hreyk neighborhood of the Dahieh district in southern Beirut. The National News Agency of Lebanon (NNA) reported that the building was struck by three rockets, causing extensive damage to surrounding buildings and vehicles.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that five people were killed and 28 others injured in the incident. It was announced that among the dead was Haythem (Ali) Tabatabai, Chief of Staff of Hezbollah’s military wing. Following the strike, rescue teams, civil defense units, and fire services rushed to the site. Eyewitnesses reported that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were flying at low altitude over Beirut’s skies after the attack.

The Targeted Individual: Haythem (Ali) Tabatabai

In a statement issued by Hezbollah, it was confirmed that Haythem (Ali) Tabatabai, Chief of Staff of Hezbollah’s military wing, was killed in the attack. Tabatabai was born in 1968 in southern Lebanon; his father was Iranian and his mother Lebanese.

He joined Hezbollah at a young age and held various senior positions within the group’s military structure over many years. According to Israeli sources, Tabatabai joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and also commanded the Ridwan Force.

Israel’s Statements

The Israeli military stated that “Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai was eliminated” in the operation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorized the strike on the advice of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.

In a written statement, Netanyahu said, “Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to regain strength or permit it to pose a renewed threat to the State of Israel.”

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared, “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off,” and affirmed that operations would continue despite the ceasefire. Israeli state television KAN claimed that the Tel Aviv administration had informed the United States prior to the strike.

Reactions from Hezbollah and Lebanese Authorities

In its statement following the attack, Hezbollah described Tabatabai as “one of the commanders who laid the foundational stones of resistance” and characterized Israel’s strike as “a crossing of the red line.” Hezbollah Political Council member Mahmoud Kumati stated, “The attack crossed the red line.”

Kumati described the strike as “another violation of the ceasefire” and accused the United States of giving a green light to escalate the conflict. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a statement following the attack, called it “further evidence that Israel is ignoring calls to halt its attacks on Lebanon.”

Aoun said, “Israel is refusing to implement international decisions and rejecting all efforts aimed at halting the escalation.” Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack and announced that the government would use all diplomatic channels with brotherly and friendly countries to protect Lebanese civilians.

International Law and the Ceasefire Context

Israel’s air strike on 23 November 2025 was the first attack targeting Beirut since the ceasefire agreement entered into force on 27 November 2024.

The ceasefire agreement was reached following clashes that began in October 2023 and escalated into a large-scale war by September 2024. The agreement called for Israel’s withdrawal from five hilltop positions it occupied in southern Lebanon and the establishment of a demilitarized zone along the border under the monitoring of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). However, according to UNIFIL reports, Israel has carried out over 10,000 air and land violations since the ceasefire came into effect.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported that since the ceasefire took effect on 27 November 2024, 331 people have been killed and 945 injured in Israeli attacks. It has also been reported that the Israeli military has failed to fulfill its obligation to withdraw as stipulated in the agreement and continues to maintain troops in all five border outposts.

President Joseph Aoun, stating that Lebanon has remained committed to halting hostilities for approximately a year, called on the international community to “intervene seriously and forcefully to stop these attacks.” Aoun also affirmed that lasting stability could be achieved only through the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Timing of the Attack and Diplomatic Developments

The attack occurred two days after President Joseph Aoun’s statement on 21 November 2025: “The Lebanese state is ready to negotiate through the United Nations, the United States or joint international sponsors and is prepared to accept any agreement that brings a permanent end to cross-border attacks.” This statement marked the first official declaration by Lebanon of its openness to negotiations. The attack took place in the Haret Hreyk neighborhood of Beirut 48 hours after this appeal.

This occurred during a period of ongoing diplomatic efforts along the Israel-Lebanon border. During the same week, U.S. and Israeli officials continued to pressure the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government approved a plan in August 2025 for Hezbollah’s disarmament, but it has been alleged that progress on implementation has been slow. As a result, the United States canceled several high-level meetings, including the scheduled visit of Lebanese Armed Forces Chief of Staff Rodolphe Haykal to Washington.

It has also been reported that the visit by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack to Israel yielded no results and that Israel has not halted its military operations.