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The Israeli military reportedly struck the top military official of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction the Hezbollah organization in a operation on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This was the first attack in several months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an area known for sheltering officials from the group.

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The focus of the operation was the military official 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 confirm whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Alert Details

A senior US official stated that Israeli authorities did not alert the US administration in advance about the strike, per a online report.

The official added that the US government was notified immediately after the strike, and a second senior US official said that the United States had known for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to escalate strikes in the country.

Background on the Military Leader

The US enforced penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, identifying him as a critical Hezbollah military leader and providing a bounty of up to five million dollars for information on him.

Attack Particulars and Consequences

The strike impacted a main road in the capital's southern suburbs, where locals stated noticing the sound of warplanes before the detonation.

People hurried out of their apartment buildings out of concern of further strikes, per a reporter in the region.

At least two individuals were killed and two dozen were hurt and transported to medical facilities in the region, per hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from the organization.

Ongoing Israel's Operations

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the past couple of years have eliminated its ex-head Hassan Nasrallah, a large portion of the high-ranking commanders and about 5,000 fighters.

Comments from Prime Minister

The Israeli leader told his cabinet on Sunday morning before the attack that Israel would continue to combat “terrorism” on several fronts.

“Our efforts will persist to do everything needed to prevent the group from rebuilding its capacity to endanger our security,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has escalated air attacks in southern Lebanon, pressing a initiative of regular assaults that it claims is designed to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by Hezbollah in the border area.

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

The group claims it has abided by stipulations for it to end its military presence in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the military forces to station there.