India, May 7 -- Israel carried out its first airstrike on Beirut since last month's ceasefire, claiming it killed a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force.

The Israeli military said the strike targeted Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah regarding the commander's death.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the operation in a joint statement.

The attack has increased pressure on the fragile ceasefire agreement that had halted Israeli strikes on Beirut, even as Israeli troops continued operations south of the Litani River and carried out repeated attacks in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has responded to Israeli oper...