🔗 Share this article Israel Target Hezbollah Chief of Staff in Lebanese capital Operation The Israeli military reportedly struck the top military official of the Lebanese Iran-aligned group Hezbollah in a operation on Beirut's southern suburbs, as stated by the Israeli prime minister's office on Sunday. This marked the initial strike in months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone renowned for hosting Hezbollah officials. Target Identified as Military Leader The target of the attack was the commanding officer the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by an source from Israel informed about the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not confirm whether the official was fatally wounded. American Notification Particulars A senior US official indicated that Israeli authorities did not notify Washington prior about the airstrike, as mentioned in a social media post. The authority clarified that the administration was notified immediately after the strike, and a another American official said that the United States had been aware for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to intensify operations in the country. Background on the Target The US enforced sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, classifying him as a prominent Hezbollah military leader and providing a incentive of up to five million dollars for details on him. Attack Particulars and Aftermath The strike hit a main road in Beirut's southern area, where residents mentioned detecting the sound of aircraft before the blast. Civilians fled out of their homes out of fear of additional attacks, per a correspondent in the area. No fewer than two individuals were killed and two dozen were hurt and taken to clinics in the region, as reported by hospital staff. There was no prompt response from the organization. Recent Israel's Operations Attacks by Israel on the Lebanese faction over the last two years have taken the lives of its former leader the group's past leader, a large portion of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants. Comments from Prime Minister The prime minister informed his government ministers on Sunday morning before the strike that the country would persist to fight “terrorism” on multiple fronts. “We will continue to do whatever is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its capacity to pose a danger to us,” he said. Wider Context Israeli forces has stepped up airstrikes in the southern region, pressing a campaign of frequent strikes that it claims is intended to hinder a resurgence of forces by Hezbollah in the boundary zone. Israeli authorities has alleged the group of seeking to rearm since a truce supported by the US recently. The faction asserts it has abided by requirements for it to terminate its armed deployment in the border region near Israel, and for the military forces to station there.