Israel's military has killed a senior member of the militant group Hezbollah in an air strike on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, despite a ceasefire.
It described Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, Hezbollah's chief of staff, as a veteran of the group who had held a series of senior positions.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that at least five people were killed and 28 others wounded in the strike, which hit an apartment building in the densely populated Dahieh district.
Hezbollah confirmed Tabtabai's death, stating that Israel had crossed a 'red line' by carrying out the strike.
This strike marks Israel's first military action in southern Beirut for months and comes amidst an intensified campaign against individuals and targets associated with Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran.
Israeli officials claim Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its military strength, smuggling arms into Lebanon, and increasing the production of explosive drones to supplement its arsenal of rockets and missiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted his government's commitment to prevent Hezbollah from regaining military capabilities, urging the Lebanese government to disarm the group.
In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease its attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting that Israeli actions violate ceasefire agreements from previous conflicts.
The Lebanese government has vowed to disarm Hezbollah, although the group has declined to engage in discussions about its arms until Israel halts its military operations and withdraws from Lebanese territory.
Heightened hostilities in the region follow a series of rocket attacks by Hezbollah in solidarity with Palestinians after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Lebanon's death toll from Israeli strikes has climbed to about 4,000, with over 1.2 million people displaced.
Additionally, the US government had previously imposed sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, labeling him a terrorist and offering a bounty for information on his activities.
