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, identified by Israeli media as Ali Tabtai, who is described as the group's number two.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 28 others injured in the attack, which hit an apartment building in the densely populated Dahieh district. It was not immediately confirmed if the person killed was Tabtai.
Hezbollah has confirmed that the strike targeted a senior commander but did not reveal their identity. The attack occurs as Israel escalates its campaign against individuals and targets it associates with Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group backed by Iran, despite a ceasefire brokered by the US and France last November.
Israeli officials allege that Hezbollah has been attempting to restore its military capabilities, smuggling weapons into Lebanon, and ramping up the production of explosive drones as an alternative to rockets. This intensifying conflict raises concerns of deeper hostilities between the two groups.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has called for international pressure on Israel to cease its attacks and withdraw from the country. He asserts that Israel's actions contravene the agreement that ended a previous 13-month conflict.
The Lebanese government seeks to disarm Hezbollah, but the group refuses to engage in discussions about its arsenal until Israel ceases its strikes, withdraws completely from Lebanon, and releases Lebanese prisoners.
A Western diplomatic source indicated that the Lebanese authorities are under pressure from the Trump administration, which is dissatisfied with what it perceives as slow progress against the group, designated as a terrorist organization by the US and UK.
The current strife between Israel and Hezbollah was reignited when the Lebanese faction began launching rockets at Israeli positions shortly after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Reports suggest that Israeli strikes have resulted in about 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon, mainly among civilians, and have displaced over 1.2 million residents. In retaliation, Israel reported the deaths of over 80 soldiers and 47 civilians.
In 2016, the US government imposed sanctions on Tabtai and designated him a terrorist, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the target was Hezbollah's chief of staff, identified by Israeli media as Ali Tabtai, who is described as the group's number two.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 28 others injured in the attack, which hit an apartment building in the densely populated Dahieh district. It was not immediately confirmed if the person killed was Tabtai.
Hezbollah has confirmed that the strike targeted a senior commander but did not reveal their identity. The attack occurs as Israel escalates its campaign against individuals and targets it associates with Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim group backed by Iran, despite a ceasefire brokered by the US and France last November.
Israeli officials allege that Hezbollah has been attempting to restore its military capabilities, smuggling weapons into Lebanon, and ramping up the production of explosive drones as an alternative to rockets. This intensifying conflict raises concerns of deeper hostilities between the two groups.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has called for international pressure on Israel to cease its attacks and withdraw from the country. He asserts that Israel's actions contravene the agreement that ended a previous 13-month conflict.
The Lebanese government seeks to disarm Hezbollah, but the group refuses to engage in discussions about its arsenal until Israel ceases its strikes, withdraws completely from Lebanon, and releases Lebanese prisoners.
A Western diplomatic source indicated that the Lebanese authorities are under pressure from the Trump administration, which is dissatisfied with what it perceives as slow progress against the group, designated as a terrorist organization by the US and UK.
The current strife between Israel and Hezbollah was reignited when the Lebanese faction began launching rockets at Israeli positions shortly after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Reports suggest that Israeli strikes have resulted in about 4,000 fatalities in Lebanon, mainly among civilians, and have displaced over 1.2 million residents. In retaliation, Israel reported the deaths of over 80 soldiers and 47 civilians.
In 2016, the US government imposed sanctions on Tabtai and designated him a terrorist, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
