BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 6 (UPI) -- Israel carried out a strike Wednesday on a residential building in Beirut's southern suburbs for the first time since the April 17 cease-fire, reportedly killing the commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force and others, Lebanese and Israeli reports said.
Three missiles hit an apartment in a residential building in the Haret Hreik neighborhood in the southern suburbs, Hezbollah's main stronghold, the official Lebanese news agency and Hezbollah's Al Manar TV reported.
Israeli websites quoted Israeli officials as saying the strike, the first on the Lebanese capital since a cease-fire to halt 46 days of Hezbollah-Israeli war went into effect, was coordinated with the United States and killed Hezbollah Radwan commander Malek Balout, his deputy and several other members of the force.
There was no immediate confirmation by Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement they ordered the Israeli Army to try to assassinate Balout, whose force was responsible for firing rockets at northern Israel and harming Israeli soldiers.
