Israeli forces Attack Hezbollah Chief of Staff in Beirut Operation
The Israeli military reportedly attacked the top military official of the Lebanese Iran-backed faction the Hezbollah organization in a operation on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to the office of the Israeli PM on Sunday.
This was the first attack in several months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an zone known for hosting Hezbollah officials.
Target Identified as Ali Tabtabai
The target of the operation was the commanding officer the Hezbollah chief of staff, as reported by an Israeli source knowledgeable of the strike and a security official in Lebanon. The prime minister's office did not reveal whether the official was eliminated.
US Notification Particulars
A senior US official revealed that Israel did not alert Washington in advance about the operation, according to a online report.
The official added that the administration was informed following the strike, and a another American official stated that the United States had been aware for days that Israel was intending to intensify strikes in Lebanon.
History on the Target
The US imposed restrictions on Tabtabai in 2016, identifying him as a critical military figure in the group and providing a reward of up to five million dollars for details on him.
Strike Particulars and Aftermath
The strike impacted a central avenue in Beirut's southern suburbs, where locals mentioned detecting the noise of warplanes before the explosion.
Civilians hurried out of their apartment buildings out of fear of further strikes, per a journalist in the region.
No fewer than two individuals were lost their lives and several dozen were wounded and rushed to hospitals in the region, according to hospital staff.
There was no prompt response from Hezbollah.
Ongoing Israel's Operations
Israeli strikes on the Lebanese faction over the past couple of years have killed its former leader the group's past leader, much of the senior military leadership and about 5,000 fighters.
Comments from Israeli Leadership
The prime minister informed his cabinet on Sunday morning before the strike that the country would continue to confront “militant activities” on several fronts.
“We will continue to do everything needed to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its capability to endanger our security,” he stated.
Wider Situation
Israel has increased air attacks in the southern region, continuing a initiative of regular assaults that it claims is intended to prevent a resurgence of forces by the faction in the frontier region.
Israeli authorities has charged Hezbollah of seeking to restock weapons since a American-endorsed peace agreement last year.
The group asserts it has complied with requirements for it to terminate its military presence in the boundary zone near the Israeli border, and for the national army to deploy there.
