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Israeli forces reportedly targeted the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a operation on the capital's southern suburbs, according to the Israeli prime minister's office on Sunday.

This marked the first strike in several months on the southern district of the capital city, an area renowned for sheltering officials from the group.

Target Named as Military Leader

The focus of the strike was the army leader Ali Tabtabai, per an Israeli source briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not reveal whether the official was fatally wounded.

American Alert Details

A high-ranking American official revealed that Israeli authorities failed to inform the US administration beforehand about the airstrike, per a digital update.

The official clarified that the administration was alerted right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the United States had known for days that Israel was intending to increase strikes in Lebanon.

Background on the Target

The US enforced restrictions on Tabtabai in 2016, classifying him as a key Hezbollah military leader and offering a reward of up to five million dollars for intel on him.

Strike Particulars and Aftermath

The strike struck a main road in Beirut's southern area, where residents mentioned detecting the noise of jets before the explosion.

Civilians fled out of their apartment buildings out of fear of further strikes, per a correspondent in the zone.

At least two individuals were killed and approximately 24 were wounded and transported to clinics in the region, per health officials.

There was no quick statement from the group.

Recent Israeli Operations

Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the recent period have eliminated its ex-head Hassan Nasrallah, a significant part of the senior military leadership and about thousands of militants.

Statements from Prime Minister

The prime minister addressed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the strike that the country would carry on to confront “terrorism” on various arenas.

“We will continue to do whatever is necessary to hinder the group from rebuilding its capability to endanger our security,” he said.

Wider Context

Israel has increased airstrikes in south Lebanon, continuing a initiative of frequent strikes that it claims is aimed to hinder a resurgence of forces by the faction in the frontier region.

Israel has charged Hezbollah of trying to acquire arms since a American-endorsed peace agreement last year.

The faction says it has complied with stipulations for it to terminate its troop placement in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the military forces to station there.