A senior commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday. This attack is the first in nearly a month in this area.
Sources close to the group identified the commander as Malek Ballout, who was in charge of operations for the Radwan unit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strike was aimed at Ballout, indicating a focused military operation against Hezbollah.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least 11 others were killed in various strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing buildings in rubble and residents evacuating the area following the attack in Ghobeiri, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
Many residents had already fled the suburbs due to previous escalations in the conflict, particularly after Hezbollah's involvement in the regional war that began in March.
A Lebanese security source indicated that the strike targeted an apartment where Radwan leaders were meeting.
Beirut had experienced a relative lull in attacks since early April, following extensive Israeli military actions that resulted in over 350 deaths across Lebanon.
The latest strikes come amidst ongoing discussions of a potential peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, as noted by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Earlier strikes in southern Lebanon, particularly in Saksakiyeh, resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries, including children and women.
Since March 2, Israeli operations have caused over 2,700 fatalities and displaced more than a million people in Lebanon.
The World Health Organization reported significant damage to healthcare facilities due to these ongoing attacks.
Hezbollah has retaliated with its own strikes against Israeli troops in response to the persistent bombings.
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir emphasized the military's commitment to dismantling Hezbollah during a visit to troops in southern Lebanon.