Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem declared the group has the right to respond to Israel's recent killing of its top military chief, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a strike on Beirut. In a televised address, Qassem described the attack as a 'heinous crime' and said the timing of any response would be determined by Hezbollah. He acknowledged the possibility of future conflict but also left open the chance for continued calm. Qassem also expressed hope that an upcoming papal visit to Lebanon could help bring peace and called for an end to Israeli strikes, insisting that his group has respected the ceasefire agreement established in November 2024.

Tabatabai, who was killed while meeting with aides, was a key figure in Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild after significant losses and had held several senior roles within the organization. Israel has intensified its strikes on Hezbollah, citing violations of the truce and concerns over the group's attempts to regain strength. The situation remains tense as both sides accuse each other of breaching the ceasefire, with the future of the fragile peace uncertain.