The Israeli military's chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the strike on Beirut's southern Dahiya district killed Ibrahim Akil, a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, as well as 10 other Hezbollah operatives.

Hezbollah did not immediately confirm the claim of Akil's killing, which came as a flurry of tit-for-tat bombardments between the enemies raised fears of a full-out war erupting in the Middle East.

Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil was killed alongside other special forces fighters as they were holding a meeting, according to a Lebanese security source.