Israel carried out an airstrike Tuesday on Beirut’s southern suburbs, targeting what officials said was a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

The strike hit the Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, sending smoke into the sky and damaging nearby buildings. Lebanese media reported emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after the blast.

Israeli officials said the target was linked to attacks on Israeli forces and communities near the Lebanon border. Hezbollah had not immediately confirmed whether the commander was killed.

The attack was the first Israeli strike on Beirut since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began in April following weeks of cross-border fighting.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it was premature to discuss any high-level meeting with Israel as diplomatic efforts continued to stabilize the border region.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions have remained high, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Israel has said it will continue operations against Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure, while Hezbollah has maintained attacks against Israeli positions in northern Israel.

The conflict has displaced civilians on both sides of the border and raised concerns of a wider regional escalation tied to tensions involving Iran.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera and BBC News.