Israel attacks Beirut, targets Hezbollah chief of staff

Lebanon's health ministry says the initial casualty toll of the Israeli strike in southern Beirut is one person killed and 21 injured.

A Hezbollah political official spoke with media at the scene, saying Hezbollah would "decide how to respond to this aggression." He also called negotiations with Israel "a waste of time."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a statement that this latest strike proves Israel "rejects the implementation of international resolutions and all efforts and initiatives proposed to put an end to escalation and restore stability not only to Lebanon but also to the entire region." The statement further called on the international community to intervene to stop Israel's strikes on Lebanon.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Victoria Beaule

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that Sunday's airstrike in the Lebanese capital Beirut targeted Hezbollah's chief of staff.

Netanyahu's office said the target "led the strengthening and arming of the terrorist organization."

"Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack on the recommendation of the minister of defense and the chief of staff," the prime minister's office said.

-ABC News' Anna Burd and Victoria Beaule

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Sunday that it "targeted a key terrorist in the Hezbollah terrorist organization" in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

The IDF has been increasing the rate of strikes targeting alleged Hezbollah members and infrastructure in southern Lebanon in recent months, but until Sunday had not resumed attacks inside the capital.

Local media reports suggested that Sunday's attack occurred in a southern suburb of the city which is known as a Hezbollah stronghold.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it killed two alleged Hezbollah members in strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

The IDF said it killed Kamel Reza Karnabsh in the Mayfadoun area of southern Lebanon. Karnabsh, the IDF said, "took part in Hezbollah's reestablishment attempts in the area."

Another alleged Hezbollah member was killed in the Houla area in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.

The man "served as the local representative of Hezbollah in the Houla area" and was "responsible for communication between the terror organization and the residents of the area regarding financial and military subjects," the IDF claimed.