Iran condemns 'Israel' over killing of Hezbollah commander

• Iran condemns 'Israel' for the killing of Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai.
• The strike occurred in Beirut, targeting the senior military leader.

Iran on Monday issued a strong condemnation of 'Israel' following the targeted killing of Hezbollah’s military chief in Beirut.

The strike, which occurred a day earlier, killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, one of the senior commanders chosen to lead Hezbollah after its recent conflicts.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, “The Iranian foreign ministry strongly condemns the cowardly assassination of the great commander of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance, the martyr Haytham Ali Tabatabai.” Tehran also denounced the attack as “a flagrant violation of the November 2024 ceasefire and a brutal breach of Lebanon’s national sovereignty.”

Hezbollah confirmed the death of “the great commander”, marking the most significant loss for the group since the ceasefire was established last November, which had ended over a year of hostilities with 'Israel'. While Tabatabai was relatively unknown to the Lebanese public, he had been entrusted with a leadership role in the group’s new command structure following the war.

'Israel' has continued to carry out targeted strikes in Lebanon since the truce, asserting that its operations focus on Hezbollah members and infrastructure. Analysts note that Hezbollah has been weakened both by its recent clashes with 'Israel' and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which disrupted its overland access to Iran, a major backer of the group.