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Israeli forces allegedly struck the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed group the Hezbollah organization in a airstrike on the capital's southern district, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This was the first airstrike in several months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an region known for housing Hezbollah officials.

Objective Identified as Military Leader

The target of the operation was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a security official in Lebanon. The prime minister's office did not state whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Notification Particulars

A senior US official indicated that Israel did not alert Washington beforehand about the airstrike, according to a social media post.

The authority added that the administration was alerted immediately after the incident, and a second senior US official stated that the United States had been aware for days that Israel was intending to intensify operations in the country.

Background on the Military Leader

The United States levied sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, labeling him as a key Hezbollah military leader and offering a reward of up to $5m for information on him.

Attack Particulars and Consequences

The airstrike impacted a primary street in Beirut's southern area, where inhabitants reported noticing the roar of jets before the detonation.

Residents hurried out of their residences out of fear of further strikes, according to a correspondent in the region.

No fewer than two individuals were fatally wounded and approximately 24 were wounded and taken to clinics in the vicinity, per health officials.

There was no prompt response from Hezbollah.

Recent Israeli Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the recent period have taken the lives of its ex-head the group's past leader, a large portion of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Prime Minister

The prime minister addressed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the attack that Israel would carry on to combat “militant activities” on various arenas.

“Our efforts will persist to do everything needed to hinder the group from re-establishing its capacity to threaten us,” he said.

Wider Situation

Israel has increased bombing raids in south Lebanon, advancing a campaign of regular assaults that it states is aimed to block a rebuilding of capabilities by the faction in the border area.

Israel has accused the group of attempting to acquire arms since a US-backed ceasefire last year.

The faction asserts it has complied with conditions for it to end its armed deployment in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the military forces to position there.