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The Israeli military reportedly targeted the top military official of Lebanon's Iran-aligned group the Hezbollah organization in a operation on the capital's southern district, according to the Israeli prime minister's office on the weekend.

This marked the initial attack in months on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, an zone known for hosting officials from the group.

Objective Named as Ali Tabtabai

The focus of the operation was the military official the Hezbollah chief of staff, according to an source from Israel knowledgeable of the incident and a Lebanese security source. The prime minister's office did not confirm whether Tabtabai was killed.

American Notification Details

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

The official clarified that the administration was notified right after the strike, and a another American official said that the US had known for days that Israeli forces was preparing to intensify operations in the country.

Background on the Target

The United States imposed penalties on the Hezbollah official in recent years, classifying him as a critical military figure in the group and offering a incentive of up to $5m for details on him.

Attack Particulars and Aftermath

The airstrike hit a central avenue in the capital's southern suburbs, where inhabitants reported hearing the sound of warplanes before the detonation.

Civilians hurried out of their homes out of apprehension of additional attacks, as stated by a reporter in the zone.

At least two individuals were lost their lives and several dozen were hurt and transported to clinics in the vicinity, per health officials.

There was no prompt response from Hezbollah.

Recent Israel's Campaign

Attacks by Israel on Hezbollah over the past couple of years have taken the lives of its former leader Hassan Nasrallah, much of the senior military leadership and about five thousand combatants.

Statements from Prime Minister

The Israeli leader told his cabinet on the morning of the incident before the attack that Israel would carry on to confront “militant activities” on several fronts.

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

Broader Context

Israeli forces has stepped up air attacks in south Lebanon, pressing a initiative of regular assaults that it says is designed to block a resurgence of forces by Hezbollah in the boundary zone.

Israeli authorities has accused the group of seeking to rearm since a truce supported by the US recently.

The group says it has abided by stipulations for it to cease its armed deployment in the border region near Israel, and for the national army to station there.