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The Israeli military allegedly targeted the top military official of the Lebanese Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a operation on the capital's southern district, per the office of the Israeli PM on the weekend.

This was the initial strike in several months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone known for housing officials from the group.

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The target of the attack was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, according to an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not confirm whether the official was killed.

American Alert Details

A senior US official indicated that Israeli authorities failed to inform the US administration in advance about the strike, according to a social media post.

The official added that the administration was alerted immediately after the strike, and a second senior US official said that the US had known for days that Israeli forces was intending to increase operations in the country.

Background on the Target

The US imposed sanctions on the Hezbollah official in recent years, identifying him as a critical military figure in the group and announcing a reward of up to $5m for intel on him.

Strike Particulars and Aftermath

The strike struck a central avenue in the capital's southern suburbs, where locals stated detecting the sound of warplanes before the explosion.

Residents fled out of their residences out of apprehension of more bombings, per a correspondent in the zone.

At least two people were lost their lives and approximately 24 were injured and taken to medical facilities in the area, as reported by health officials.

There was no prompt response from the group.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Attacks by Israel on the Lebanese faction over the past couple of 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 thousands of militants.

Comments from Prime Minister

The prime minister addressed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would persist to combat “militant activities” on various arenas.

“Our efforts will persist to do all that is required to hinder Hezbollah from re-establishing its capacity to threaten us,” he stated.

Wider Situation

Israeli forces has stepped up air attacks in south Lebanon, pressing a initiative of regular assaults that it says is designed to prevent a resurgence of forces by Hezbollah in the border area.

Israel has charged the group of trying to restock weapons since a US-backed ceasefire the previous year.

The group claims it has abided by conditions for it to terminate its armed deployment in the border region near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to position there.