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.
Israel's strike crossed a "red line", Hezbollah
official Mahmoud Qmati said as he stood near the bombed-out building in the
Haret Hreik suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Hezbollah's leadership would decide on whether and how the
group would respond, he added.
Lebanon's health ministry said the strike killed five people
and wounded 28 more. It hit a multi-story building, sending debris crashing
into cars on the main road below.
People rushed out of their apartment buildings, fearing
further bombardment, a Reuters reporter said.
The
United States imposed sanctions on Tabtabai in 2016, identifying him as a key
Hezbollah leader and offering a reward of up to US$5 million for information on
him.
The Israeli military statement said Tabtabai "commanded
most of Hezbollah's units and worked hard to restore them to readiness for war
with Israel".
In a short-televised statement, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its forces
and that he expected the Lebanese government "to fulfill its obligation to
disarm Hezbollah."
