BEIRUT, 24 Nov. - (ANA) - Lebanon's health ministry reported five people killed and 28 wounded on Sunday after an Israeli strike hit a residential building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, in one of the most serious attacks on the capital since last year’s ceasefire.

 

The strike hit the third and fourth floors of a nine-storey building in the Haret Hreik district, where ambulances gathered and rescuers inspected damaged apartments, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

 

Lebanon's National News Agency reported injuries and “significant damage” in the densely populated neighbourhood.

 

Israel claimed it was targeting a senior Hezbollah figure it described as the movement's "chief of staff", without providing further identifying details.

 

Israeli media and Lebanese media reported that the strike was aimed at Haytham Ali Tabatabai, known as Abou Ali Tabatabai, a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan force and a prominent figure in the group's wing.

 

Tabatabai is under US sanctions and has been linked to coordination with Iran-aligned groups in Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had ordered the strike on the recommendation of the defence minister and the military chief, calling the target a figure "who oversaw the strengthening and arming of the organisation".

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged international action following the attack. In a statement, he said Lebanon "reiterates its call to the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene firmly and seriously to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people".

 

It was the first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since June and the fifth since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November 2024.

 

Lebanese officials accuse Israel of violating the truce through continued attacks and by maintaining positions inside Lebanese territory.

 

Israel has intensified operations across southern Lebanon in recent weeks, framing its attacks as efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding capabilities. The group has not commented on the individual Israel claims to have targeted.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/24 November 2025 - - -