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The Israeli military reportedly targeted the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a airstrike on the capital's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This represented the first strike in months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone known for hosting Hezbollah officials.

Objective Named as Military Leader

The focus of the attack was the military official Ali Tabtabai, per an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a security official in Lebanon. The prime minister's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

American Alert Particulars

A high-ranking American official indicated that Israel failed to inform the US administration beforehand about the airstrike, according to a social media post.

The official noted that the administration was notified right after the incident, and a second senior US official said that the US had been aware for days that Israel was intending to intensify attacks in Lebanon.

History on the Target

The United States enforced penalties on Tabtabai in 2016, labeling him as a prominent Hezbollah military leader and announcing a incentive of up to five million dollars for details on him.

Strike Details and Aftermath

The blast struck a primary street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where locals mentioned hearing the sound of warplanes before the detonation.

Residents rushed out of their apartment buildings out of concern of further strikes, per a journalist in the region.

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

There was no quick statement from Hezbollah.

Ongoing Israel's Campaign

Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the last two years have taken the lives of its former leader the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Prime Minister

The prime minister informed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would carry on to confront “terrorism” on several fronts.

“We shall carry on to do whatever is necessary to stop the group from re-establishing its ability to endanger our security,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has escalated air attacks in south Lebanon, pressing a campaign of near-daily attacks that it says is intended to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by Hezbollah in the border area.

Israeli authorities has alleged Hezbollah of attempting to acquire arms since a truce supported by the US the previous year.

The faction claims it has followed conditions for it to end its troop placement in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the Lebanese army to deploy there.