US Backs Israel’s Right to Self-Defense Following Strike That Killed Hezbollah Chief of Staff
The White House on Monday affirmed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strike in Lebanon on Sunday that resulted in the death of Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s military chief of staff. The incident has heightened tensions in the region and prompted international scrutiny.
During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that while President Donald Trump had not specifically discussed the strike, “of course, the president supports Israel’s right to defend itself and to take out any terrorist threats in the region.”
According to reports from Channel 12 news, the US was aware of Israel’s plans to escalate strikes in Lebanon in the days leading up to the operation, but was not informed about the specific targeting of Tabatabai. The US State Department had previously designated Tabatabai as a terrorist and sanctioned him in 2016, and the US Treasury had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement Sunday evening, asserted that Tabatabai was instrumental in Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm. “Israel will not let Hezbollah rebuild its strength,” Netanyahu vowed, characterizing the senior Hezbollah official as “a mass murderer” responsible for the deaths of both Israelis and Americans. He further stated that he “expects the Lebanese government to fulfill its commitment to disarm Hezbollah,” arguing that such action would secure a better future for all Lebanese citizens and foster peaceful relations with Israel.
Israel confirmed on Sunday that Tabatabai was killed in a targeted airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a claim later corroborated by Hezbollah. Intelligence assessments indicate Tabatabai held a position second only to Secretary-General Naim Qassem within the Iran-backed organization’s command structure. The IDF described Tabatabai as a “veteran and central operative” who joined the group in the 1980s and held key roles, including commander of the elite Radwan Force and head of Hezbollah’s operations in Syria. More recently, he was appointed to lead Hezbollah’s operations division, responsible for force buildup and situational awareness.
Tabatabai’s increased prominence within Hezbollah followed a period of significant losses to the group’s senior leadership during fighting in 2024, where Israel eliminated two of his predecessors.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its strikes against Hezbollah, accusing the group of violating the year-old ceasefire and actively attempting to rebuild its military capabilities. These actions reflect growing frustration with the Lebanese government’s perceived failure to disarm the organization. The Sunday strike occurred almost exactly one year after a US-brokered truce in Lebanon took effect on November 27, 2024.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that Tabatabai’s assassination was a direct response to “Hezbollah’s repeated violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the 2024 ceasefire understandings,” as well as the threat he posed to regional stability. The ministry further accused the Lebanese government of failing to address Hezbollah’s violations, while simultaneously asserting that Hezbollah is actively working to “restore and expand” its military capabilities. Israel maintains its commitment to the full implementation of the ceasefire understandings and reports having documented hundreds of violations through a US-led international mechanism.
