🔗 Share this article

Israeli forces reportedly attacked the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-backed group the Hezbollah organization in a operation on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This marked the first strike in months on the southern district of the capital city, an region renowned for housing officials from the group.

Target Identified as Ali Tabtabai

The target of the strike was the military official Ali Tabtabai, according to an Israeli source informed about the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not confirm whether the official was killed.

US Alert Details

A senior US official indicated that Israel did not notify Washington prior about the airstrike, according to a digital update.

The official added that the US government was alerted immediately after the incident, and a another American official stated that the United States had had information for several days that Israeli forces was intending to intensify attacks in the country.

History on the Military Leader

The US enforced penalties on the Hezbollah official in 2016, identifying him as a critical military figure in the group and providing a reward of up to $5m for information on him.

Strike Details and Consequences

The strike hit a central avenue in the capital's southern suburbs, where locals reported detecting the noise of jets before the explosion.

Civilians hurried out of their homes out of fear of further strikes, per a journalist in the region.

No fewer than two individuals were fatally wounded and several dozen were wounded and taken to clinics in the vicinity, per health officials.

There was no prompt response from the organization.

Ongoing Israeli Campaign

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the past couple of years have taken the lives of its ex-head the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about 5,000 fighters.

Statements from Prime Minister

The prime minister addressed his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the strike that Israel would continue to confront “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We will continue to do everything needed to stop Hezbollah from rebuilding its capacity to pose a danger to us,” he stated.

Broader Context

Israel has escalated air attacks in south Lebanon, advancing a campaign of near-daily attacks that it states is designed to block a resurgence of forces by Hezbollah in the boundary zone.

Israeli authorities has accused Hezbollah of trying to restock weapons since a US-backed ceasefire last year.

The faction claims it has abided by conditions for it to end its military presence in the frontier area near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to position there.