Jaina Raff

Hezbollah announced that Haitham Ali Tabatabai was killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday.

The group described him as one of the founders of resistance against Israel.

Israel has launched almost daily attacks in south Lebanon, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed a year ago.

This was Israel's first attack in months on Beirut.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on other countries to intervene to stop Israel's ceasefire violations.

Hezbollah has refrained from attacking Israel since last year's ceasefire.

But a Hezbollah official called Sunday's attack a new red line.

For NPR News, I'm Jaina Raff in Beirut.

Wicked for Good

Israel launched the strike a week before Pope Leo lands in Beirut on his first papal visit to Lebanon.

The Israeli military said the target was a senior official of the militant group Hezbollah.

Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, Israel has launched almost daily attacks in south Lebanon, but attacks in the Lebanese capital have been rare.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of rebuilding its military structure.

The Lebanese government says it is continuing to disarm the militant group along the border, as called for under the ceasefire.

For NPR News, I'm Jaina Raff in Beirut.

UNIFIL said this week it had reported to the U.N.

Security Council over 7,500 Israeli air violations and almost 2,500 ground incursions since the two countries signed a ceasefire a year ago.

The Israeli attacks have killed more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese government.

UNIFIL says at least one-third were civilians.

Israel says it has responded to the military group Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its military capacity.