Hezbollah chief of staff killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Israeli forces have killed a senior member of Hezbollah in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut. This is the first such attack since a months-long ceasefire came into effect, the BBC reports.

Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, was described by Israeli military officials as a veteran member of the group who had held several high-ranking positions.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that at least five people were killed and 28 others wounded in the strike on a densely populated residential building in the Dahieh district.

Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death, claiming that Israel had “crossed a red line” in carrying out the strike.

This is Israel’s first strike in southern Beirut in recent months, despite the ceasefire brokered by the United States and France that took effect in November of last year.

Israeli officials claim Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its military capabilities by smuggling weapons and increasing production of offensive drones as an alternative to missiles. There are growing concerns about a possible escalation of hostilities.

“The State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power, and we will not allow it to once again become a threat to Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.