🔗 Share this article Israeli forces Attack Hezbollah Military Leader in Lebanese capital Raid The Israeli military reportedly targeted the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-backed faction the Hezbollah organization in a strike on the capital's southern district, as stated by the Israeli prime minister's office on the weekend. This marked the initial attack in several months on the southern suburbs of the capital city, an zone renowned for hosting Hezbollah officials. Target Identified as Ali Tabtabai The target of the attack was the commanding officer Ali Tabtabai, according to an Israeli source knowledgeable of the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The prime minister's office did not state whether Tabtabai was killed. US Alert Particulars A senior US official revealed that Israeli authorities failed to inform the US administration prior about the airstrike, per a social media post. The authority added that the US government was informed right after the strike, and a another American official said that the US had had information for several days that Israeli forces was intending to increase attacks in the country. Background on the Military Leader The United States levied sanctions on the Hezbollah official in 2016, labeling him as a key military figure in the group and announcing a reward of up to five million dollars for details on him. Attack Particulars and Aftermath The blast hit a main road in Beirut's southern suburbs, where locals stated detecting the roar of jets before the blast. Residents hurried out of their apartment buildings out of apprehension of further strikes, per a reporter in the area. At least two people were fatally wounded and several dozen were injured and taken to hospitals in the area, per hospital staff. There was no quick statement from the organization. Ongoing Israel's Campaign Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have killed its previous chief the group's past leader, a large portion of the senior military leadership and about 5,000 fighters. Comments from Prime Minister The prime minister informed his government ministers on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would carry on to confront “terrorism” on several fronts. “We will continue to do everything needed to prevent the group from re-establishing its capacity to pose a danger to us,” he said. Wider Situation Israel has stepped up air attacks in the southern region, pressing a initiative of frequent strikes that it states is aimed to hinder a military revival by Hezbollah in the boundary zone. Israeli authorities has charged Hezbollah of seeking to rearm since a American-endorsed peace agreement last year. The group claims it has complied with conditions for it to end its military presence in the border region near Israel, and for the national army to deploy there.