BEIRUT: In a significant escalation, Israeli forces launched an attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Wednesday evening, resulting in the death of Malek Ballout, a senior commander from Hezbollah's elite Radwan force.

This marks the first such incident in nearly a month, with the last major attack occurring on April 8th, which killed over 350 people across Lebanon.

According to sources close to Hezbollah, Ballout was the operations commander within the Radwan force.

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the Ghobeiri region, a known stronghold for Hezbollah.

Witnesses confirmed seeing smoke rising from the area post-attack.

The attack comes amidst broader geopolitical tensions.

In particular, it follows U.S. President Donald Trump's statement indicating a potential peace deal with Iran, which has been a significant factor in escalating regional conflicts, including Israel's ongoing skirmishes with Hezbollah and its ally Iran.

Since March 2nd, when Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East conflict by attacking Israel, Israeli strikes have resulted in over 2,700 fatalities and displaced more than a million people, particularly from southern and eastern regions of Lebanon and Beirut's suburbs.

Despite a truce that went into effect on April 17th, Israel has continued to bomb various parts of Lebanon, primarily the south, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching attacks against Israeli troops.

This ongoing cycle of violence underscores the complexities of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict and its regional implications.