🔗 Share this article

The Israeli military allegedly targeted the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-backed group Hezbollah in a operation on Beirut's southern district, as stated by the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This was the initial attack in months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone known for hosting Hezbollah officials.

Objective Named as Military Leader

The target of the strike was the commanding officer Ali Tabtabai, according to an source from Israel briefed on the strike and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not confirm whether the official was fatally wounded.

US Notification Details

A high-ranking American official revealed that Israeli authorities did not notify Washington in advance about the airstrike, as mentioned in a online report.

The authority clarified that the administration was notified following the strike, and a second senior US official mentioned that the United States had been aware for days that Israel was planning to escalate strikes in the country.

History on the Target

The United States imposed restrictions on the Hezbollah official in recent years, classifying him as a key Hezbollah military leader and providing a incentive of up to five million dollars for details on him.

Attack Particulars and Aftermath

The strike impacted a primary street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where residents reported hearing the sound of warplanes before the explosion.

Residents rushed out of their apartment buildings out of concern of further strikes, according to a journalist in the area.

No fewer than two individuals were lost their lives and approximately 24 were wounded and taken to hospitals in the vicinity, according to medical sources.

There was no quick statement from the organization.

Ongoing Israel's Campaign

Israeli strikes 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 senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader addressed his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would persist to combat “militant activities” on several fronts.

“We will continue to do whatever is necessary to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding its capability to pose a danger to us,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has stepped up airstrikes in southern Lebanon, continuing a initiative of near-daily attacks that it claims is aimed to block a rebuilding of capabilities by Hezbollah in the border area.

Israeli authorities has charged Hezbollah of seeking to restock weapons since a American-endorsed peace agreement recently.

The faction claims it has abided by stipulations for it to terminate its armed deployment in the border region near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to deploy there.