Iran has sharply criticized Israel following the killing of Hezbollah’s military chief, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a strike on the Lebanese capital of Beirut. The strike, which took place on Sunday, November 23, 2025, killed the most senior Hezbollah commander since the implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire.
📜 Iran’s Condemnation
On Monday, the Iranian foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation of the assassination:
- “Flagrant Violation”: The ministry stated that the killing “constitutes a flagrant violation of the November 2024 ceasefire and a brutal breach of Lebanon’s national sovereignty.”
- “Cowardly Assassination”: The statement “strongly condemns the cowardly assassination of the great commander of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance, the martyr Haytham Ali Tabatabai.”
🛡️ The Target and Context
- Hezbollah Confirmation: Hezbollah earlier confirmed the death of “the great commander” Tabatabai.
- Significance: Tabatabai was largely unknown to the general Lebanese public but was one of the new commanders chosen to lead the group after the most recent conflict.
- Post-Ceasefire Strikes: Despite the truce in November 2024, Israel has repeatedly conducted bombings in Lebanon, primarily stating that the targets were Hezbollah members and infrastructure.
- Iran’s Role: Iran is the key backer of Hezbollah. The killing comes amid a backdrop where Hezbollah has been weakened by hostilities with Israel and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which previously provided a crucial overland connection to Iran.