Israel has carried out an air strike on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for the first time in months, targeting a senior member of the militant group Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the target was Hezbollah's chief of staff. Israeli media reports identified him as Ali Tabtai, describing him as the group's number two.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 28 others were wounded in the strike, which hit an apartment building in the densely populated Dahieh district. It is not immediately clear if the person killed was Tabtai.
Hezbollah confirmed that the strike targeted a senior commander but did not disclose the individual's identity.
This attack coincides with Israel escalating its military operations against individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group supported by Iran, despite a ceasefire brokered by the US and France that went into effect last November.
Israeli officials have accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities, smuggling weapons into Lebanon, and increasing the production of explosive drones as alternatives to rockets and missiles, leading to growing fears of escalating hostilities.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel, which continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, to cease its attacks and withdraw, claiming such actions violate the agreement that ended a prior conflict.
The Lebanese government has expressed intentions to disarm Hezbollah; however, the group has refused to discuss its weapons before Israel ceases its attacks, fully withdraws, and releases Lebanese detainees.
A Western diplomatic official, speaking anonymously, stated that the Lebanese authorities face pressure from the Trump administration, which is frustrated with what it sees as slow progress against Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by several nations including the US and UK.
The latest tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated following the Lebanese group's rocket fire into Israeli positions the day after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which they framed as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli attacks have reportedly resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths in Lebanon, predominantly civilians, and displaced over 1.2 million people, while Israeli authorities note casualties among their soldiers and civilians.
In 2016, the US government imposed sanctions on Tabtai, designating him a terrorist with a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
