Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday condemned the killing of a Hezbollah military commander in an Israeli strike, threatening a “devastating response” in retaliation.
Haytham Ali Tabtabai was killed in an Israeli attack on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday. He is the top Hezbollah commander whom Israel has eliminated since the start of the November 2024 ceasefire, which was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities.
In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said it “strongly condemns this barbaric crime”, adding that Hezbollah and the rest of the “axis of resistance” – Iran and a network of armed groups backed by Tehran – reserve the right to avenge Tabtabai’s death.
The IRGC has warned that Israel will face a “devastating response”, at a time and in a manner of Tehran’s choosing.
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack, calling it a “gross violation of the November 2024 ceasefire and a brutal encroachment on Lebanese sovereignty.”
Israel has repeatedly carried out strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire, claiming that Hezbollah fighters and their military infrastructure were the targets.
Hezbollah, whose main sponsor is Iran, has been significantly weakened by the latest conflict with Israel, as well as the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, a key ally of both Tehran and Hezbollah.
These strikes have also hit Iran directly, including attacks by Israeli and US forces on Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day war earlier this year.
(Vijesti.ba)
