Quick Hit:

Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs Tuesday, targeting a Hezbollah commander accused of orchestrating a deadly rocket attack in the Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children.

Key Details:

• Israeli sources speaking with Axios said that the airstrike targeted senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, also known as al-Hajj Mohsin, accused of orchestrating a rocket attack that killed 12 children in the Golan Heights, a disputed territory between Syria and Israel.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed a "harsh" response to the attacks, with internal political pressure mounting following a civilian death in northern Israel due to a separate rocket attack on Tuesday.

• Countries including the UK, Germany, France, and the US have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, with many airlines canceling flights to Beirut amid rising tensions.

Diving Deeper:

According to a report by The Guardian, Israel carried out an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday, targeting a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, also known as al-Hajj Mohsin. Shukr was blamed for a rocket attack over the weekend that tragically killed 12 children. The airstrike caused a loud blast heard across the Lebanese capital, with smoke rising from the area known as a Hezbollah stronghold.

In a statement, the IDF stated, "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." While reports suggest Shurk was killed in the strike, it has yet to be independently confirmed.

In response to the escalating situation, American diplomatic efforts have intensified to prevent the conflict from expanding. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict through diplomatic means, stating, "While we've seen a lot of activity on Israel's northern border, we remain concerned about the potential of this escalating into a full-blown fight. And I don't believe that a fight is inevitable."

Political pressure within Israel has been mounting, especially after a civilian was killed in a separate rocket attack in northern Israel on Tuesday. This has likely influenced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise of a "harsh" response.

As tensions rise, several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and the US, have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon or avoid traveling there. The British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, warned that events are "fast-moving," urging British nationals to depart Lebanon immediately. Consequently, numerous airlines, such as Greece's Aegean Airlines and Germany's Condor, have suspended flights to Beirut, joining others like Royal Jordanian, Air France, and Lufthansa.