Israel killed top Hezbollah commander in an attack on Lebanon’s capital along with at least four others. Al Jazeera reports Hezbollah confirms the death of ‘great commander’ Haytham Ali Tabata’i, and that the Israeli attacks open “door to escalation of assaults.”
HANADY SALMAN, [email protected]
Salman is a journalist based in Beirut. She contributed to the book Inside Lebanon. The film “Letters from Beirut: the War of 33” is based on her writings. See her writings in Jadaliyya.
She said today: “The strike comes after an unprecedented escalation in threats of launching a major military campaign that would not amount to a war according to Israeli officials. It was the first time the southern suburbs were hit since July. It comes only two days after Lebanese president Joseph Aoun said in a speech, on the occasion of independence day, that the state of Lebanon is ready to negotiate [with Israel] under U.S. or U.N. supervision.
“The strike was on a Sunday, which averted a bigger number of casualties on a commercial street that is usually very crowded.
“It is widely believed that the purpose of the strike, that killed the top military official in Hezbollah, is to drag the party to launch attacks that might start a war.
“The fact that the press release of the party, that confirmed the martyrdom of Haytham Tabata’i, did not mention any intentions to respond or revenge, which is widely seen as a message that Hezbollah will not fall into the Israeli trap.
“There were also 28 wounded. Tabata’i was born in 1968 to an Iranian father and Lebanese mother.
“The Israelis issued a statement saying this was the third attempt to kill the targeted person, ‘asserting’ that the will continue to abide by force by the ceasefire agreement.”
In fact, Anadolu Ajansı recently reported in “Lebanon says 331 killed, 945 injured by Israeli fire since ceasefire” that “U.N. peacekeeping mission recorded more than 10,000 air and ground violations by Israel inside Lebanese territory.”
Salman continued, “there are reports that link any major Israeli attack in Lebanon to a potential attack on Iran” and Israeli public statements indicate “that Lebanon will be attacked after the Pope’s visit to the country (30 November – 2 December).
“In any case, Israel has a free hand and a permanent American green light to hit Lebanon whenever it deems suitable.
“On Monday, a day off in Lebanon since independence day was on a Saturday, a pre-scheduled demonstration was held on Hamra Street refusing to give up arms and dismantling the resistance. Hezbollah announced Tabata’i funeral to take place Monday. … The Israeli army started a series of maneuvers in the Galilee for the second time in months.”