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The Israeli military reportedly targeted the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction Hezbollah in a operation on Beirut's southern district, according to the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This was the initial attack in several months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an region renowned for housing Hezbollah officials.

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The objective of the attack was the commanding officer Ali Tabtabai, as reported by an Israeli source briefed on the strike and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

American Alert Details

A high-ranking American official indicated that Israel failed to inform the US administration in advance about the strike, per a social media post.

The official clarified that the US government was alerted immediately after the incident, and a second senior US official said that the United States had known for days that Israel was preparing to increase operations in the country.

Background on the Military Leader

The US enforced sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, labeling him as a prominent military figure in the group and announcing a incentive of up to five million dollars for intel on him.

Attack Particulars and Consequences

The strike struck a primary street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where residents mentioned detecting the noise of aircraft before the blast.

People hurried out of their residences out of apprehension of additional attacks, according to a correspondent in the zone.

At least two people were fatally wounded and several dozen were wounded and rushed to hospitals in the vicinity, according to hospital staff.

There was no prompt response from the organization.

Recent Israeli Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have eliminated its ex-head the group's past leader, a large portion of the high-ranking commanders and about thousands of militants.

Statements from Israeli Leadership

The prime minister addressed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that the country would persist to fight “terrorism” on various arenas.

“We shall carry on to do whatever is necessary to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding its capability to pose a danger to us,” he said.

Wider Context

Israeli forces has escalated bombing raids in the southern region, advancing a operation of near-daily attacks that it claims is designed to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by the faction in the border area.

Israel has charged the group of attempting to acquire arms since a US-backed ceasefire recently.

The group asserts it has complied with conditions for it to cease its armed deployment in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the national army to station there.