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The Israeli military reportedly targeted the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-backed group the Hezbollah organization in a strike on the capital's southern district, per the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This represented the initial airstrike in months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an region recognized for housing Hezbollah officials.

Objective Identified as Military Leader

The focus of the strike was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, according to an source from Israel informed about the strike and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not state whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Alert Details

A high-ranking American official stated that Israel did not notify the US administration in advance about the airstrike, as mentioned in a digital update.

The authority added that the US government was informed following the incident, and a another American official said that the US had known for days that Israeli forces was planning to intensify operations in the country.

History on the Military Leader

The United States enforced restrictions on Tabtabai in recent years, identifying him as a prominent military figure in the group and providing a incentive of up to $5m for details on him.

Strike Particulars and Aftermath

The strike struck a main road in Beirut's southern suburbs, where residents mentioned detecting the sound of jets before the detonation.

People hurried out of their homes out of fear of more bombings, according to a correspondent in the area.

No fewer than two people were lost their lives and several dozen were injured and taken to medical facilities in the area, according to medical sources.

There was no prompt response from the group.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the recent period have taken the lives of its former leader the group's past leader, much of the high-ranking commanders and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Prime Minister

The Israeli leader addressed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that the country would carry on to combat “terrorism” on several fronts.

“Our efforts will persist to do everything needed to stop the group from restoring its capability to pose a danger to us,” he said.

Broader Situation

Israel has escalated airstrikes in southern Lebanon, advancing a operation of regular assaults that it says is intended to hinder a military revival by Hezbollah in the frontier region.

Israeli authorities has charged Hezbollah of attempting to rearm since a American-endorsed peace agreement last year.

The faction says it has complied with stipulations for it to end its troop placement in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the national army to deploy there.