}}
}}
{{Hezbollah}}
{{Hezbollah}}
”’Haytham Ali Tabatabai”’ ({{langx|ar|”’هيثم علي طبطبائي”’}}, also known as ”’Abu Ali Tabatabai”’; 1968 – 23 November 2025) was a Lebanese [[Hezbollah]] senior commander. According to reports, he served as a senior figure in Hezbollah [[Unit 3800]],<ref name=”auto1″>{{cite web |url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/haytham-ali-tabatabai/ |title=Haytham ‘Ali Tabataba’i |publisher=Rewards For Justice }}</ref> which has been involved in Hezbollah’s activities in countries such as [[Syria]], [[Yemen]], and [[Iraq]]. He previously served as commander of the [[Radwan Force]], Hezbollah’s elite [[special forces]] unit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-15 |title=What is the Radwan force, Hezbollah’s elite unit on the Israeli border? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/15/who-are-radwan-force-hezbollah/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
”’Haytham Ali Tabatabai”’ ({{langx|ar|”’هيثم علي طبطبائي”’}}, also known as ”’Abu Ali Tabatabai”’; 1968 – 23 November 2025) was a Lebanese [[Hezbollah]] senior commander. According to reports, he served as a senior figure in Hezbollah [[Unit 3800]],<ref name=”auto1″>{{cite web |url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/haytham-ali-tabatabai/ |title=Haytham ‘Ali Tabataba’i |publisher=Rewards For Justice }}</ref> which has been involved in Hezbollah’s activities in countries such as [[Syria]], [[Yemen]], and [[Iraq]]. He previously served as commander of the [[Radwan Force]], elite [[special forces]] unit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-15 |title=What is the Radwan force, elite unit on the Israeli border? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/15/who-are-radwan-force-hezbollah/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
On 26 October 2016, the U.S. [[Department of State]] designated him as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]].<ref name=”auto1″/>
On 26 October 2016, the U.S. [[Department of State]] designated him as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]].<ref name=”auto1″/>
== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Tabatabai was born 1968 in [[Beirut]] to an [[Iran|Iranian]] father and a [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] mother. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, according to the [[Israel Defense Forces]], as part of its “second generation” of fighters.<ref name=”:2″> https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-was-tabtabai-hezbollahs-military-leader-killed-by-israel-2025-11-23/]</ref><ref> https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Who-is-Haytham-Ali-Tabatabai-Inside-the-life-of-Hezbollah-s-elusive-commander]</ref>
Tabatabai was born 1968 in [[Beirut]] to an [[Iran|Iranian]] father and a [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] mother. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, according to the [[Israel Defense Forces]], as part of its “second generation” of fighters.<ref name=”:2″> https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-was-tabtabai-hezbollahs-military-leader-killed-by-israel-2025-11-23/]</ref><ref> https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Who-is-Haytham-Ali-Tabatabai-Inside-the-life-of-Hezbollah-s-elusive-commander]</ref>
According to reports, Tabatabai served as a senior officer in Hezbollah Unit 3800 within [[Hezbollah]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=קשת 12 |first=דסק |date=2024-02-29 |title=שקט מדומה: כך צמח ארגון הטרור הרצחני בצפון |url=https://www.mako.co.il/tv-special/Article-4c9969b2e56fd81027.htm |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=mako |language=he}}</ref> a unit responsible for training operatives from Shiite militias operating across the [[Middle East]]. The unit provides support to relevant groups in [[Iraq]] and to the [[Houthis]] in [[Yemen]], and one of its primary missions is to train and assist fighters on the ground. According to reports, before the [[Gaza war]] he was responsible for the Radwan Force’s invasion portfolio.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |last=Beeri |first=Tal |date=2025-03-02 |title=Is There Tension in Hezbollah’s Current Military Leadership? How Did this Leadership Survive the War? |url=https://israel-alma.org/is-there-tension-in-hezbollahs-current-military-leadership-how-did-this-leadership-survive-the-war/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Alma Research and Education Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
According to reports, Tabatabai served as a senior officer in Hezbollah Unit 3800 within [[Hezbollah]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=קשת 12 |first=דסק |date=2024-02-29 |title=שקט מדומה: כך צמח ארגון הטרור הרצחני בצפון |url=https://www.mako.co.il/tv-special/Article-4c9969b2e56fd81027.htm |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=mako |language=he}}</ref> a unit responsible for training operatives from Shiite militias operating across the [[Middle East]]. The unit provides support to relevant groups in [[Iraq]] and to the [[Houthis]] in [[Yemen]], and one of its primary missions is to train and assist fighters on the ground. According to reports, before the [[Gaza war]] he was responsible for the Radwan invasion portfolio.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |last=Beeri |first=Tal |date=2025-03-02 |title=Is There Tension in Hezbollah’s Current Military Leadership? How Did this Leadership Survive the War? |url=https://israel-alma.org/is-there-tension-in-hezbollahs-current-military-leadership-how-did-this-leadership-survive-the-war/ |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=Alma Research and Education Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
The U.S. [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] designated him on 26 October 2016 as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]] and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information about him.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 October 2020 |title=USA: $5 million reward for information on 2 senior Hezbollah operatives |url=https://nziv.net/54518/ |website=Nziv.net}}</ref>
The U.S. [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] designated him on 26 October 2016 as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]] and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information about him.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 October 2020 |title=USA: $5 million reward for information on 2 senior Hezbollah operatives |url=https://nziv.net/54518/ |website=Nziv.net}}</ref>
According to the Alma Research Center, Tabatabai replaced [[Ali Karaki]] as commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front following his [[assassination]]. He was one of two prominent survivors of the [[2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon|2024 Lebanon war]], together with [[Muhammad Haydar]], who replaced [[Fuad Shukr]].<ref name=”:0″>{{cite web |last=Beeri |first=Tal |date=2025-03-02 |title=Is There Tension in Hezbollah’s Current Military Leadership? How Did this Leadership Survive the War? |url=https://israel-alma.org/is-there-tension-in-hezbollahs-current-military-leadership-how-did-this-leadership-survive-the-war/ |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=Alma – Research & Education Centre |publisher=Alma}}</ref> He served as the chief of Hezbollah’s operations unit during the war, rising in ranks as other senior leaders were assassinated by Israel. During the [[2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement]], he became Hezbollah’s chief of staff and worked to restore the group’s readiness for a new war.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Who was Hezbollah military leader Haytham Ali Tabatabai? {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-874943 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=”:2″ /> He was Hezbollah’s “second-in-command after [[Naim Qassem]]”. His extensive military and operational experience contrasted with Haydar, who had a civilian background and lacked operational experience.<ref name=”:1″ />
According to the Alma Research Center, Tabatabai replaced [[Ali Karaki]] as commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front following his assassination. He was one of two prominent survivors of the [[2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon|2024 Lebanon war]], together with [[Muhammad Haydar]], who replaced [[Fuad Shukr]].<ref name=”:0″>{{cite web |last=Beeri |first=Tal |date=2025-03-02 |title=Is There Tension in Hezbollah’s Current Military Leadership? How Did this Leadership Survive the War? |url=https://israel-alma.org/is-there-tension-in-hezbollahs-current-military-leadership-how-did-this-leadership-survive-the-war/ |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=Alma – Research & Education Centre |publisher=Alma}}</ref> He served as the chief of Hezbollah’s operations unit during the war, rising in ranks as other senior leaders were assassinated by Israel. During the [[2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement]], he became Hezbollah’s chief of staff and worked to restore the group’s readiness for a new war.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Who was Hezbollah military leader Haytham Ali Tabatabai? {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-874943 |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=”:2″ /> He was Hezbollah’s “second-in-command after [[Naim Qassem]]”. His extensive military and operational experience contrasted with Haydar, who had a civilian background and lacked operational experience.<ref name=”:1″ />
==Assassination==
==Assassination==
[[Category:21st-century Lebanese people]]
[[Category:21st-century Lebanese people]]
[[Category:Lebanese people of Iranian descent]]
[[Category:Lebanese people of Iranian descent]]
[[Category:Iranian people of Lebanese descent]]
Hezbollah member
|
Haytham Ali Tabatabai |
|
|---|---|
| Native name |
هيثم علي طبطبائي |
| Nickname | Abu Ali Tabatabai |
| Born | 1968 |
| Died | November 23, 2025 (aged 56–57)
Beirut, Lebanon |
| Cause of death | Assassination by airstrike |
| Allegiance |  Lebanon |
| Branch |  Hezbollah |
| Rank | Chief of staff (described as number 2 after Naim Qassem) |
| Commands |
|
Haytham Ali Tabatabai (Arabic: هيثم علي طبطبائي, also known as Abu Ali Tabatabai; 1968 – 23 November 2025) was a Lebanese Hezbollah senior commander. According to reports, he served as a senior figure in Hezbollah Unit 3800,[1] which has been involved in Hezbollah’s activities in countries such as Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. He previously served as commander of the Radwan Force, Hezbollah’s elite special forces unit.[2]
On 26 October 2016, the U.S. Department of State designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.[1]
Tabatabai was born in 1968 in Beirut to an Iranian father and a Lebanese mother. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, according to the Israel Defense Forces, as part of its “second generation” of fighters.[3][4]
According to reports, Tabatabai served as a senior officer in Hezbollah Unit 3800 within Hezbollah,[5] a unit responsible for training operatives from Shiite militias operating across the Middle East. The unit provides support to relevant groups in Iraq and to the Houthis in Yemen, and one of its primary missions is to train and assist fighters on the ground. According to reports, before the Gaza war, he was responsible for the Radwan Force’s invasion portfolio.[6]
The U.S. Department of State designated him on 26 October 2016 as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and offered a reward of up to $5 million for information about him.[7]
According to the Alma Research Center, Tabatabai replaced Ali Karaki as commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front following his assassination. He was one of two prominent survivors of the 2024 Lebanon war, together with Muhammad Haydar, who replaced Fuad Shukr.[8] He served as the chief of Hezbollah’s operations unit during the war, rising in ranks as other senior leaders were assassinated by Israel. During the 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement, he became Hezbollah’s chief of staff and worked to restore the group’s readiness for a new war.[9][3] He was Hezbollah’s “second-in-command after Naim Qassem“. His extensive military and operational experience contrasted with Haydar, who had a civilian background and lacked operational experience.[6]
On 23 November 2025, five people were killed and 28 others were injured in an Israeli strike on the fourth floor of an apartment building in Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighborhood. Hezbollah later confirmed that Tabatabai was assassinated in the attack.[10]
