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The Israeli military allegedly struck the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-backed group Hezbollah in a operation on the capital's southern suburbs, per the Israeli prime minister's office on the weekend.

This was the first strike in months on the southern district of the capital city, an area known for hosting Hezbollah officials.

Objective Named as Military Leader

The target of the attack was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, per an Israeli source informed about the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not confirm whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

US Notification Particulars

A senior US official stated that Israeli authorities failed to inform Washington prior about the strike, per a digital update.

The official added that the administration was alerted right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the United States had had information for days that Israeli forces was intending to increase strikes in the country.

History on the Target

The United States levied sanctions on Tabtabai in recent years, labeling him as a key military figure in the group and offering a bounty of up to $5m for details on him.

Attack Particulars and Aftermath

The airstrike impacted a central avenue in Beirut's southern area, where residents stated hearing the noise of aircraft before the detonation.

Civilians hurried out of their apartment buildings out of fear of additional attacks, per a journalist in the zone.

At least two individuals were lost their lives and approximately 24 were hurt and transported to clinics in the vicinity, per health officials.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Attacks by Israel on the Lebanese faction over the last two years have taken the lives of its ex-head the group's past leader, a significant part of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Prime Minister

The prime minister told his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would carry on to fight “terrorism” on multiple fronts.

“We will continue to do whatever is necessary to hinder the group from re-establishing its capability to threaten us,” he said.

Broader Context

Israel has increased bombing raids in south Lebanon, advancing a campaign of frequent strikes that it claims is designed to block a military revival by Hezbollah in the border area.

Israeli authorities has alleged Hezbollah of seeking to acquire arms since a US-backed ceasefire last year.

The faction says it has complied with stipulations for it to end its military presence in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the military forces to deploy there.