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Israeli forces reportedly struck the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-aligned group the Hezbollah organization in a airstrike on the capital's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

This was the first strike in months on the southern district of the Lebanese capital, an zone recognized for hosting officials from the group.

Objective Named as Ali Tabtabai

The target of the strike was the army leader the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by 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.

US Notification Details

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

The authority clarified that the US government was notified right after the incident, and a another American official stated that the United States had been aware for days that Israeli forces was intending to increase attacks in Lebanon.

History on the Military Leader

The United States imposed penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, classifying him as a critical military figure in the group and providing a bounty of up to five million dollars for details on him.

Strike Particulars and Aftermath

The airstrike struck a main road in Beirut's southern area, where residents reported hearing the noise of aircraft before the explosion.

People hurried out of their apartment buildings out of apprehension of additional attacks, according to a journalist in the area.

At least two people were killed and several dozen were injured and taken to hospitals in the region, per medical sources.

There was no prompt response from the organization.

Ongoing Israel's Operations

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the last two years have taken the lives of its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, a significant part of the senior military leadership and about 5,000 fighters.

Statements from Israeli Leadership

The prime minister informed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the attack that the country would carry on to confront “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“Our efforts will persist to do all that is required to hinder Hezbollah from re-establishing its capability to pose a danger to us,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has stepped up airstrikes in southern Lebanon, continuing a initiative of frequent strikes that it claims is intended to prevent a rebuilding of capabilities by the faction in the frontier region.

Israeli authorities has alleged the group of trying to acquire arms since a American-endorsed peace agreement recently.

The faction claims it has abided by stipulations for it to terminate its armed deployment in the boundary zone near Israel, and for the national army to position there.