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Israeli forces allegedly attacked the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-aligned faction Hezbollah in a operation on the capital's southern district, per the Israeli prime minister's office on the weekend.

This represented the initial airstrike in several months on the southern district of the Lebanese capital, an region renowned for sheltering Hezbollah officials.

Target Named as Ali Tabtabai

The objective of the operation was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, per an source from Israel briefed on the incident and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not state whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Alert Particulars

A senior US official revealed that Israel did not alert Washington prior about the operation, per a online report.

The official noted that the US government was informed right after the incident, and a second senior US official said that the US had been aware for days that Israel was preparing to increase strikes in Lebanon.

Background on the Target

The United States levied penalties on Tabtabai in recent years, labeling 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 airstrike hit a central avenue in Beirut's southern area, where residents reported hearing the noise of warplanes before the detonation.

Civilians fled out of their apartment buildings out of concern of further strikes, as stated by a reporter in the zone.

At least two people were fatally wounded and approximately 24 were injured and taken to medical facilities in the area, as reported by medical sources.

There was no quick statement from the group.

Ongoing Israeli Campaign

Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have killed its former leader the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about thousands of militants.

Comments from Prime Minister

The Israeli leader addressed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that the country would carry on to combat “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We will continue to do all that is required to stop Hezbollah from restoring its ability to endanger our security,” he said.

Wider Context

Israeli forces has escalated bombing raids in southern Lebanon, continuing a operation of near-daily attacks that it states is designed to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by Hezbollah in the boundary zone.

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

The faction claims it has followed conditions for it to end its military presence in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the Lebanese army to station there.