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Israeli forces allegedly struck the top military official of the Lebanese Iran-aligned group Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, as stated by the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This marked the first strike in months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an area renowned for sheltering Hezbollah officials.

Target Named as Military Leader

The objective of the operation was the military official the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by an Israeli source informed about the incident and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not state whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

American Alert Details

A senior US official revealed that Israel did not notify the US administration prior about the strike, as mentioned in a online report.

The official clarified that the administration was informed immediately after the strike, and a another American official stated that the United States had known for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to intensify attacks in Lebanon.

History on the Military Leader

The US levied penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, classifying him as a key military figure in the group and announcing a bounty of up to $5m for details on him.

Strike Details and Consequences

The blast hit a primary street in Beirut's southern area, where residents stated noticing the roar of jets before the blast.

People hurried out of their apartment buildings out of fear of further strikes, according to a journalist in the area.

At least two people were killed and two dozen were hurt and transported to hospitals in the vicinity, per hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from the group.

Recent Israeli Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have taken the lives of its ex-head the group's past leader, much of the senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader addressed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that Israel would persist to combat “terrorism” on several fronts.

“Our efforts will persist to do whatever is necessary to stop the group from re-establishing its ability to threaten us,” he said.

Wider Situation

Israeli forces has escalated air attacks in southern Lebanon, advancing a operation of near-daily attacks that it says is intended to block a military revival by Hezbollah in the frontier region.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rearm since a truce supported by the US the previous year.

The faction claims it has abided by requirements for it to cease its troop placement in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to station there.