The Israeli military allegedly struck the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed group Hezbollah in a airstrike on the capital's southern suburbs, per the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.
This marked the initial attack in months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone renowned for sheltering Hezbollah officials.
Objective Identified as Military Leader
The objective of the strike was the commanding officer the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by an source from Israel informed about the strike and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not state whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.
US Notification Details
A high-ranking American official indicated that Israel did not notify the US administration in advance about the airstrike, per a digital update.
The official noted that the administration was alerted immediately after the strike, and a another American official said that the US had been aware for days that Israeli forces was preparing to intensify attacks in Lebanon.
History on the Target
The US imposed penalties on Tabtabai in recent years, identifying him as a prominent Hezbollah military leader and offering a reward of up to $5m for intel on him.
Strike Details and Aftermath
The blast struck a main road in the capital's southern suburbs, where residents mentioned detecting the noise of warplanes before the detonation.
People hurried out of their residences out of apprehension of more bombings, according to a correspondent in the region.
No fewer than two individuals were lost their lives and two dozen were wounded and taken to medical facilities in the vicinity, according to health officials.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Ongoing Israeli Operations
Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the past couple of years have eliminated its previous chief Hassan Nasrallah, a significant part of the group's top military brass and about thousands of militants.
Statements from Prime Minister
The prime minister addressed his government ministers on Sunday morning before the attack that Israel would carry on to confront “militant activities” on several fronts.
“We will continue to do everything needed to stop the group from re-establishing its ability to threaten us,” he stated.
Broader Situation
Israel has stepped up airstrikes in south Lebanon, advancing a campaign of regular assaults that it claims is designed to prevent a resurgence of forces by the faction in the boundary zone.
Israeli authorities has charged Hezbollah of trying to rearm since a American-endorsed peace agreement the previous year.
The faction says it has complied with requirements for it to terminate its troop placement in the border region near Israel, and for the military forces to deploy there.
