Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Against Israel Over Commander’s Killing

Beirut: Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, has warned Israel of imminent retaliation following the killing of senior commander Ali Tabatabai in an Israeli airstrike near Beirut.
According to international media, Qassem paid tribute to Tabatabai, describing him as a “brave soldier” and vowed that Hezbollah is fully prepared to avenge his death. He declared that the group will exercise its right to self-defense and deliver a “decisive and damaging response” to Israel.
Qassem cautioned that Israel should brace itself for a powerful retaliation, emphasizing that the response will be both effective and costly. He also urged Lebanon’s government to take measures to prevent Israeli aggression and safeguard national security.
In his remarks, Qassem accused Israel of being “the most illegitimate state in the world,” claiming it has normalized occupation and domination, and vowed to challenge this perception.
The warning comes days after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing Tabatabai, who was serving as Hezbollah’s acting Chief of Staff.