Iran on Monday, November 24, strongly condemned Israel following the assassination of Hezbollah’s senior military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, who was killed in an airstrike in Beirut a day earlier.
In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the attack as a “cowardly assassination,” calling Tabatabai a “great commander of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance.” The ministry said the killing represents a serious escalation at a critical time.
Tabatabai is believed to be the most senior Hezbollah commander killed by Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire, which was intended to end more than a year of hostilities between the two sides. Tehran described the strike as a “flagrant violation” of the truce and a “brutal breach of Lebanon’s national sovereignty.”
Hezbollah earlier confirmed Tabatabai’s death, describing him as “the great commander.” Though not widely known among the Lebanese public, he was reportedly one of the new commanders appointed to help lead the group after the war.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued launching strikes across Lebanon, saying its operations target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, has faced growing pressure in the region. The militant group has been significantly weakened by its recent conflict with Israel and the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime previously provided a vital land route between Hezbollah and Tehran.
The loss of Tabatabai adds to Iran’s frustrations, coming months after Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities during a brief but intense 12-day war earlier this year.
