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Israeli forces reportedly struck the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This marked the first strike in several months on the southern district of the capital city, an area recognized for hosting Hezbollah officials.

Objective Identified as Military Leader

The focus of the operation was the army leader Ali Tabtabai, according to an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not state whether the official was killed.

American Notification Details

A senior US official stated that Israeli authorities did not alert Washington beforehand about the operation, according to a social media post.

The authority added that the US government was informed right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the US had had information for several days that Israeli forces was planning to escalate operations in the country.

History on the Target

The United States levied penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, classifying him as a critical military figure in the group and offering a reward of up to $5m for details on him.

Attack Particulars and Aftermath

The airstrike hit a primary street in the capital's southern suburbs, where inhabitants mentioned detecting the sound of warplanes before the detonation.

Residents hurried out of their homes out of apprehension of additional attacks, according to a journalist in the region.

At least two individuals were fatally wounded and approximately 24 were hurt and taken to clinics in the area, according to medical sources.

There was no immediate comment from the organization.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the last two years have killed its ex-head the group's past leader, a significant part of the senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Prime Minister

The prime minister told his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the strike that Israel would persist to fight “terrorism” on several fronts.

“We will continue to do whatever is necessary to hinder Hezbollah from re-establishing its capability to threaten us,” he said.

Broader Context

Israel has escalated air attacks in southern Lebanon, continuing a initiative of regular assaults that it claims is aimed to hinder a military revival by the faction in the boundary zone.

Israeli authorities has alleged Hezbollah of seeking to rearm since a truce supported by the US recently.

The group says it has followed conditions for it to terminate its troop placement in the frontier area near the Israeli border, and for the Lebanese army to station there.