In an operation dubbed "Black Friday," the Air Force attacked Dahiyya for the first time in 5 months - following "explosive intelligence." The target was Hezbollah's number 2, Yousef Ali Tabatbay, and Israel is preparing for the possibility that Hezbollah will respond. Initially, Israel claimed that the US was informed in advance, but later a political source said:"The Americans were informed after the attack."

Yossi Yehoshua, Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari, Elisha Ben Kimon|

The Air Force attempted to eliminate Hezbollah's number two and the terrorist organization's acting chief of staff, Yousef Ali Tabatabaei, in his hideout apartment in the Dahiyya district of Beirut on Sunday afternoon. This is the first Israeli attack on Dahiyya since

June

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the attack and said that Tabatbay "led the strengthening and arming of the terrorist organization." The operation was dubbed "Black Friday," and a security source said there was growing confidence in Israel that the assassination was successful.

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You were Ali Tabatbay.

According to an Israeli security source,"The attack on Dahiyeh was coordinated with the Americans. In the past, the Americans vetoed activity in Beirut, but given the helplessness of the Lebanese authorities, the Americans realized they had no choice." A political source later said: "We only informed the Americans about the assassination in Dahiyeh afterwards, but the Americans knew that we were planning to increase attacks against Hezbollah." It was also stated that "there is a likelihood that Hezbollah will respond. We are preparing for such a possibility."

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir interrupted a round of talks and went down to the pit to monitor the assassination. A statement from Netanyahu's office stated that"the Prime Minister ordered the attack on the recommendation of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff. Israel is determined to act to achieve its goals anywhere and at any time." At the same time, a senior Hezbollah source told the Qatari Al Jazeera network that"a senior figure in the organization was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyya."

The attempted assassination of Tabatbay stemmed from a "bursting opportunity" - hot intelligence that had arrived - and the operation was approved. The Americans were informed of it, as mentioned, and there was largely coordination between the countries that was going to escalate the attacks in Lebanon.

If the operation is successful, it will be a very difficult blow for Hezbollah, as following the previous assassinations of its senior figures, a situation was created in which Tabatbay received a lot of power and became the de facto chief of staff of the terrorist organization. At this stage, it is difficult to see how he will respond to the attack.

The attack in Dahiyya (Photo: Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

The attack in Dahiyya (Photo: Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

Tabatabaei is a mysterious and senior figure in Hezbollah. He was designated a global terrorist in 2016 by the United States, which even offered a $5 million reward for information on him. According to the American administration, he is a key military leader in Hezbollah who commanded the terrorist organization's special forces in Syria and Yemen as part of"a major effort by Hezbollah to provide training, materials, and manpower to support its activities to destabilize the region."

Israel has recognized for many weeks that Tabatbay was working to violate the agreement with Lebanon and restore Hezbollah's capabilities. The IDF was determined to offset the capabilities of the terrorist organization, which is trying to rehabilitate itself in a variety of areas - both in terms of military strength and in terms of terrorists near the border. The army made it clear that they would continue to enforce the agreement, which includes offsetting Hezbollah's capabilities and harming anyone who wants to harm Israel.

According to Lebanese reports, the attack targeted the fourth and fifth floors of a residential building on Al-Arid Street in the Haret Kharik area of Dahiyya. It was also reported that there were several dead and wounded at the scene. The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen network added that"the airstrike was preceded by intensive flights by Israeli aircraft."

As early as October 26, 2016, the US State Department designated Tabatbay as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, by presidential order. As a result, among other consequences, all of his assets and property in US jurisdiction were frozen, and US officials were generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said after the attack:"We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and everywhere. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7."

(Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

(Photo: Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

Lebanese Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar responded to the assassination attempt: "Israeli aggression has been harming all of Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement brokered by the US. Hezbollah (and its supporters) are currently trying to show that the attacks are not aimed only at them, but at all of Lebanon, in order to mobilize the government to take a tougher stance than usual. They are not breaking the rules yet."

"Any attack against Lebanon is crossing a red line. This aggression is inherent in Israel, which attacks Lebanon's dignity, sovereignty, and the security of its citizens. The resistance is acting wisely and patiently, and it will determine the appropriate time to confront this enemy. We are in a total battle with the enemy, and our timing for battle is different from that of the enemy. We determined this at the appropriate time. The Palestinian experience confirms that an arrangement and talks about peace cannot come from an enemy that openly declares its intention to expand."

Prior to the attack in Dahiyya, Lebanese media outlets reported that a Hezbollah terrorist named Muhammad Saleh was killed in a vehicle attack by an IDF drone in the village of Aita al-Shaab in the south of the country. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Saleh is a released prisoner who was previously in Al-Khaiam prison in southern Lebanon."An Israeli drone attacked him while he was driving his vehicle in the A-Rajam neighborhood to bring equipment to repair his house in Aita al-Shaab," the report said.

Yesterday, Hezbollah terrorist Hussein Yassin Hussein was eliminated in a vehicle attack by a drone between the villages of Sheqra and Majdal Salem in southern Lebanon. The terrorist organization issued an unusual statement condemning the assassination, stating that it was an attack that added to the"series of crimes in recent days against several town workers." It was emphasized that the attack yesterday, on Lebanon's Independence Day, confirms that Israel is sending a message to Lebanon and the authorities and is trying to paralyze their role and harm their manpower.

It was also reported that"the fact that these assassinations (which occurred yesterday, according to the Lebanese Armed Forces) occurred four times within a short period of time proves that this is a systematic assassination policy that Israel is pursuing against workers at civilian facilities, in violation of international law and existing agreements." Hezbollah added that harming civilian workers is a red line and will not allow this to be normalized, and that this requires a firm stance on the part of Lebanon.