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The Israeli military allegedly attacked the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction the Hezbollah organization in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, as stated by 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 area known for hosting Hezbollah officials.

Objective Identified as Ali Tabtabai

The objective of the operation was the military official Ali Tabtabai, as reported by an Israeli source briefed on the incident and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

US Notification Details

A high-ranking American official indicated that Israeli authorities did not alert Washington in advance about the operation, per a social media post.

The authority clarified that the US government was alerted immediately after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the US had had information for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to escalate operations in Lebanon.

History on the Military Leader

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

Strike Particulars and Aftermath

The strike impacted a primary street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where inhabitants reported noticing the noise of aircraft before the blast.

Civilians rushed out of their homes out of apprehension of additional attacks, as stated by a correspondent in the region.

At least two individuals were fatally wounded and approximately 24 were injured and rushed to hospitals in the area, as reported by hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from the group.

Recent Israel's Operations

Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the last two years have eliminated its former leader the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about thousands of militants.

Statements from Israeli Leadership

The prime minister addressed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the attack that the country would persist to confront “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We shall carry on to do everything needed to stop the group from rebuilding its ability to pose a danger to us,” he declared.

Broader Situation

Israel has stepped up bombing raids in southern Lebanon, continuing a campaign of regular assaults that it says is aimed to hinder a military revival by the faction in the border area.

Israeli authorities has accused Hezbollah of trying to rearm since a truce supported by the US the previous year.

The faction asserts it has complied with conditions for it to terminate its troop placement in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the Lebanese army to station there.