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Israeli forces reportedly struck the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction Hezbollah in a operation on the capital's southern district, as stated by the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This was the first strike in months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an zone known for housing Hezbollah officials.

Objective Identified as Ali Tabtabai

The focus of the strike was the army leader Ali Tabtabai, per an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not confirm whether the official was killed.

American Notification Particulars

A high-ranking American official indicated that Israeli authorities did not notify Washington prior about the strike, according to a online report.

The official clarified that the administration was alerted right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the US had been aware for days that Israeli forces was preparing to escalate attacks in the country.

Background on the Target

The US levied sanctions on the Hezbollah official in 2016, labeling him as a key military figure in the group and offering a bounty of up to five million dollars for information on him.

Attack Particulars and Aftermath

The strike impacted a primary street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where inhabitants mentioned detecting the noise of warplanes before the detonation.

Residents rushed out of their residences out of apprehension of additional attacks, per a reporter in the zone.

At least two individuals were killed and two dozen were wounded and transported to hospitals in the vicinity, according to health officials.

There was no prompt response from the group.

Recent Israeli Campaign

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the last two years have eliminated its ex-head the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about thousands of militants.

Comments from Prime Minister

The Israeli leader told his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that Israel would carry on to confront “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We shall carry on to do all that is required to hinder Hezbollah from restoring its capability to threaten us,” he stated.

Broader Situation

Israeli forces has stepped up airstrikes in the southern region, advancing a initiative of near-daily attacks that it says is aimed to hinder a rebuilding of capabilities by the faction in the border area.

Israel has alleged Hezbollah of trying to restock weapons since a US-backed ceasefire recently.

The faction says it has abided by conditions for it to end its military presence in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to station there.