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The Israeli military allegedly targeted the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-aligned faction the Hezbollah organization in a airstrike on the capital's southern district, as stated by the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This was the first attack in several months on the southern district of the Lebanese capital, an area recognized for housing officials from the group.

Target Identified as Military Leader

The focus of the attack was the commanding officer Ali Tabtabai, according to an source from Israel informed about the incident and a Lebanese security source. The PM's office did not confirm whether the official was killed.

American Alert Particulars

A high-ranking American official indicated that Israeli authorities did not alert Washington in advance about the strike, per a social media post.

The official added that the administration was notified right after the incident, and a second senior US official mentioned that the United States had been aware for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to escalate attacks in the country.

Background on the Target

The United States imposed sanctions on Tabtabai in recent years, classifying him as a prominent Hezbollah military leader and announcing a incentive of up to five million dollars for intel on him.

Attack Particulars and Consequences

The airstrike struck a central avenue in Beirut's southern suburbs, where locals mentioned hearing the sound of jets before the blast.

Civilians fled out of their apartment buildings out of apprehension of further strikes, according to a journalist in the zone.

No fewer than two people were killed and several dozen were hurt and taken to clinics in the vicinity, as reported by medical sources.

There was no prompt response from the group.

Ongoing Israel's Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the recent period have killed its former leader the group's past leader, a large portion of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader informed his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the attack that the country would persist to fight “militant activities” on several fronts.

“We will continue to do all that is required to stop the group from re-establishing its capacity to threaten us,” he declared.

Broader Context

Israeli forces has stepped up air attacks in south Lebanon, pressing a campaign of near-daily attacks that it claims is aimed to block a resurgence of forces by the faction in the frontier region.

Israel has charged Hezbollah of trying to acquire arms since a truce supported by the US the previous year.

The faction asserts it has abided by stipulations for it to terminate its military presence in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the military forces to station there.