The strike, the first on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital in months, targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah’s acting chief of staff, Ali Tabtabai, the military said in a statement.

There was no immediate confirmation of his killing from Hezbollah, although senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati confirmed a central figure from the group had been targeted.

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Speaking near the bombed-out building in the Haret Hreik suburb, he said Israel’s strike crossed a “red line”. Mr Qmati said Hezbollah’s leadership would decide on whether and how the group would respond.

“The strike on the southern suburbs today opens the door to an escalation of assaults all over Lebanon,” he said.

The United States imposed sanctions on Mr Tabtabai in 2016, identifying

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