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Israeli forces allegedly attacked the chief of staff of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction Hezbollah in a airstrike on the capital's southern suburbs, per the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.

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

Target Identified as Military Leader

The focus of the attack was the military official the Hezbollah chief of staff, per an Israeli source briefed on the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The prime minister's office did not reveal whether Tabtabai was fatally wounded.

US Alert Details

A high-ranking American official revealed that Israel did not alert the US administration beforehand about the airstrike, according to a social media post.

The authority noted that the administration was informed immediately after the incident, and a second senior US official stated that the US had known for days that Israeli forces was intending to escalate attacks in Lebanon.

History on the Military Leader

The United States levied penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, identifying him as a key military figure in the group and offering a incentive of up to five million dollars for details on him.

Attack Details and Consequences

The blast impacted a main road in the capital's southern area, where inhabitants stated noticing the roar of jets before the explosion.

Civilians rushed out of their apartment buildings out of apprehension of additional attacks, per a correspondent in the area.

At least two people were lost their lives and approximately 24 were wounded and transported to clinics in the region, per hospital staff.

There was no immediate comment from the group.

Ongoing Israeli Campaign

Israeli strikes on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have eliminated its ex-head the group's past leader, much of the group's top military brass and about five thousand combatants.

Comments from Israeli Leadership

The Israeli leader informed his government ministers on Sunday morning before the attack that the country would carry on to combat “militant activities” on multiple fronts.

“We shall carry on to do all that is required to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capacity to threaten us,” he declared.

Wider Context

Israel has escalated air attacks in the southern region, continuing a initiative of near-daily attacks that it states is designed to block a resurgence of forces by Hezbollah in the border area.

Israel has alleged the group of attempting to restock weapons since a truce supported by the US last year.

The group claims it has abided by stipulations for it to terminate its armed deployment in the border region near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to deploy there.