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The Israeli military allegedly targeted the chief of staff of Lebanon's Iran-aligned group the Hezbollah organization in a strike on Beirut's southern district, according to the Israeli prime minister's office on Sunday.

This was the initial attack in several months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an region recognized for sheltering officials from the group.

Objective Named as Military Leader

The target of the strike was the military official Ali Tabtabai, per an Israeli source informed about the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The PM's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was eliminated.

American Alert Details

A senior US official revealed that Israel did not alert Washington in advance about the airstrike, as mentioned in a digital update.

The official noted that the US government was alerted right after the strike, and a another American official mentioned that the US had known for several days that Israeli forces was preparing to increase operations in Lebanon.

History on the Military Leader

The US enforced restrictions on Tabtabai in recent years, identifying him as a prominent military figure in the group and providing a bounty of up to $5m for information on him.

Attack Details and Aftermath

The airstrike hit a primary street in the capital's southern suburbs, where inhabitants mentioned hearing the roar of jets before the detonation.

Residents fled out of their residences out of apprehension of additional attacks, as stated by a reporter in the zone.

At least two individuals were fatally wounded and approximately 24 were injured and taken to hospitals in the region, as reported by health officials.

There was no immediate comment from the organization.

Recent Israeli Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the last two years have killed its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, a significant part of the group's top military brass and about thousands of militants.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader told his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that the country would persist to confront “terrorism” on various arenas.

“Our efforts will persist to do everything needed to prevent the group from re-establishing its ability to endanger our security,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has stepped up air attacks in southern Lebanon, pressing a operation of frequent strikes that it says is intended to hinder a military revival by the faction in the border area.

Israeli authorities has accused Hezbollah of trying to acquire arms since a American-endorsed peace agreement the previous year.

The faction claims it has complied with conditions for it to cease its military presence in the frontier area near Israel, and for the national army to position there.