Operation Black Friday: IDF confirms assassination of Hezbollah ‘chief of staff’ in Beirut strike

His elimination is seen by Israel as a major blow aimed at preventing the terrorist group from rearming and strengthening.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) today (Sunday) confirmed the assassination of Ali Tabatabaei (also identified as Haitham Ali Tabatabaei), the de facto Hezbollah Chief of Staff and the second most senior figure in the terrorist organization, in an aerial strike on the Dahiya quarter of Beirut.

The operation, codenamed “Black Friday” by the IDF, successfully targeted Tabatabaei’s safe house apartment in the heart of Hezbollah’s stronghold.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a clear statement following the strike: “Israel is determined to act to achieve its goals at any place and at any time.”

The Target: A Major Terror Commander

Ali Tabatabaei was a veteran and central figure in Hezbollah, joining the terrorist group in the 1980s. He held a string of senior positions throughout his career:

Commander of the Radwan Force

Head of Operations in Syria: Where he bolstered Hezbollah’s entrenchment in the country.

Chief of Operations during the War: Appointed to this role during the war to oversee the organization’s operational picture and force build-up.

De Facto War Manager: Following the elimination of most of the military leadership during “Operation Northern Arrows,” he took on the effective responsibility for managing the war against Israel.

His elimination is seen by Israel as a major blow aimed at preventing the terrorist group from rearming and strengthening.

The United States had previously offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture, designating him as an international terrorist for commanding Hezbollah special forces in Syria and Yemen to destabilize the region.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

The complex strike on a 10-story building in Dahiya was executed by the Israeli Air Force less than an hour after intelligence was received.

The strike reportedly targeted the fourth and fifth floors of the building on Al-Arid street in the Haret Hreik neighborhood.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the attack resulted in five fatalities and 28 injuries.

Following the attack, the Lebanese Army imposed a security cordon around the site, and Lebanese residents reported intensive Israeli drone activity continuing over Dahiya.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir commanded the operation from the Supreme Command Post at the Kirya base, stating, “We attacked the most senior commander in the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The attack was intended to prevent the organization from intensifying and to strike precisely at those who seek to harm the State of Israel.”

Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz approved the strike shortly before the bombs were dropped.

Political Reactions and No Warning to the US

Both American and Israeli officials confirmed that the United States was not notified in advance of the highly sensitive strike due to the emergent nature of the intelligence and time constraints.

A senior American official stated they were informed immediately after the attack was executed, a point corroborated by an Israeli official.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media later emphasized that “Israel makes its decisions independently.”

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, calling it further proof that Israel disregards calls to cease its aggression and urged the international community to intervene forcefully to stop the attacks.

Despite the high-profile elimination, the Israeli Home Front Command did not issue any new special instructions for residents in the north, although the aerial defense system was put on heightened alert.

A senior IDF source speculated that Hezbollah might not retaliate, while another security source clarified: “If Hezbollah responds, Israel is preparing for the possibility of additional attacks in Lebanon.”

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