The Israeli military on Tuesday claimed that it has killed Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, a top commander with Hezbollah’s missile and rocket unit in an airstrike in Beirut. “Qabisi was struck alongside additional central commanders of Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets force,” the military said in a statement. They further said that Qabisi had joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and had held several significant military roles within the organisation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded message, urged Lebanese civilians to heed their calls to evacuate, ahead of its widening air campaign against Hezbollah, news agency AP reported. “Israel’s war is not with you. It’s with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields… Starting this morning, the IDF has warned you to get out of harm’s way. I urge you, take this warning seriously. Don’t let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones… Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,” Netanyahu said.

How did the recent strikes begin? Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating for the past 11 months. Hezbollah has fired rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza and its ally, Hamas.