Beirut (Lebanon)/IBNS: An Israeli air strike targeted a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut's southern suburbs late on Tuesday in what the Israeli military said was carried out in retaliation for a cross-border rocket attack three days ago that killed 12 children and teenagers, media reports said.

"Initial report- the IDF carried out a targeted strike in Beirut, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians. At the moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines. If any changes will be made, an update will be released," the Israel Defence Forces posted on X.

According to reports, a loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the southern suburbs, which is a stronghold of the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah at around 7:40 p.m. (1640 GMT), Reuters quoted a witness as saying.

A senior Lebanese security told Reuters that a senior Hezbollah commander had been the target of the air strike and his fate remained unclear.

Lebanon's state-run national news agency said an Israeli air strike had targeted the area around Hezbollah's Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of the capital.