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The Israeli military reportedly attacked the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-aligned group the Hezbollah organization in a operation on Beirut's southern suburbs, per the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

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

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The focus of the attack was the commanding officer the Hezbollah chief of staff, according to an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not confirm whether the official was fatally wounded.

American Alert Details

A high-ranking American official stated that Israel did not notify the US administration beforehand about the airstrike, as mentioned in a online report.

The authority added that the US government was notified right after the strike, and a another American official said that the US had been aware for days that Israeli forces was intending to escalate attacks in the country.

Background on the Target

The US imposed sanctions on Tabtabai in recent years, classifying him as a critical military figure in the group and providing a bounty of up to $5m for information on him.

Attack Particulars and Consequences

The strike impacted a central avenue in Beirut's southern area, where locals mentioned detecting the roar of warplanes before the explosion.

Residents fled out of their apartment buildings out of concern of further strikes, as stated by a reporter in the zone.

No fewer than two people were lost their lives and two dozen were injured and taken to medical facilities in the vicinity, per health officials.

There was no quick statement from the organization.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the last two years have taken the lives of its previous chief Hassan Nasrallah, a large portion of the high-ranking commanders and about 5,000 fighters.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The prime minister addressed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the strike that Israel would persist to combat “terrorism” on several fronts.

“Our efforts will persist to do everything needed to prevent the group from re-establishing its capability to pose a danger to us,” he declared.

Broader Context

Israeli forces has escalated bombing raids in the southern region, pressing a initiative of frequent strikes that it says is aimed to block a military revival by Hezbollah in the boundary zone.

Israel has accused the group of trying to restock weapons since a US-backed ceasefire recently.

The faction asserts it has followed requirements for it to cease its military presence in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the national army to position there.