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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 suburbs, per the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This represented the first strike in months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an area recognized for housing Hezbollah officials.

Objective Named as Military Leader

The focus of the attack was the army leader Ali Tabtabai, according to an Israeli source briefed on the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not confirm whether Tabtabai was eliminated.

US Alert Particulars

A senior US official revealed that Israel failed to inform Washington beforehand about the operation, as mentioned in a social media post.

The official noted that the administration was notified immediately after the incident, and a second senior US official said that the US had been aware for days that Israel was preparing to intensify strikes in the country.

History on the Target

The US levied restrictions on the Hezbollah official in recent years, labeling him as a key Hezbollah military leader and providing a incentive of up to $5m for intel on him.

Attack Details and Consequences

The blast impacted a primary street in the capital's southern suburbs, where residents reported noticing the roar of jets before the detonation.

People hurried out of their residences out of fear of more bombings, as stated by a journalist in the region.

At least two individuals were fatally wounded and two dozen were hurt and rushed to hospitals in the region, per hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Recent Israel's Operations

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the last two years have killed its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, a large portion of the senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader told his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that the country would persist to confront “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We shall carry on to do whatever is necessary to hinder Hezbollah from restoring its capacity to pose a danger to us,” he declared.

Broader Situation

Israel has stepped up airstrikes in south Lebanon, pressing a campaign of near-daily attacks that it says is intended to hinder a resurgence of forces by the faction in the border area.

Israel has charged the group of seeking to rearm since a US-backed ceasefire recently.

The group asserts it has abided by conditions for it to cease its troop placement in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the Lebanese army to deploy there.