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The Israeli military reportedly targeted the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut's southern district, as stated by the Israeli prime minister's office on the weekend.

This marked the first airstrike in several months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an area recognized for sheltering officials from the group.

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The objective of the strike was the army leader Ali Tabtabai, per an Israeli source informed about the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Alert Details

A senior US official indicated that Israel failed to inform the US administration in advance about the strike, according to a social media post.

The official noted that the administration was notified right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the US had been aware for several days that Israel was planning to escalate attacks in the country.

Background on the Military Leader

The US imposed penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, labeling him as a critical Hezbollah military leader and providing a incentive of up to five million dollars for information on him.

Attack Details and Consequences

The blast struck a central avenue in Beirut's southern suburbs, where residents stated hearing the roar of warplanes before the explosion.

People fled out of their homes out of concern of further strikes, per a reporter in the area.

At least two people were fatally wounded and two dozen were wounded and rushed to clinics in the region, as reported by hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Ongoing Israel's Operations

Attacks by Israel on the Lebanese faction over the recent period have eliminated its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, a large portion of the senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The prime minister addressed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that Israel would persist to fight “terrorism” on multiple fronts.

“We shall carry on to do everything needed to stop the group from re-establishing its capacity to endanger our security,” he said.

Broader Situation

Israel has stepped up airstrikes in southern Lebanon, continuing a campaign of regular assaults that it says is aimed to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by the faction in the frontier region.

Israeli authorities has alleged the group of attempting to acquire arms since a truce supported by the US recently.

The faction says it has abided by requirements for it to end its troop placement in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to position there.