**Israeli Airstrike Reportedly Targets Hezbollah Leader in Lebanon, Escalating Regional Conflict**

A high-ranking Hezbollah leader, rumored to be the successor to the slain Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has been uncontactable since Friday following an Israeli airstrike, a Lebanese security source reported on Saturday. The attack, which allegedly targeted Hashem Safieddine in an underground bunker, is part of Israel’s ongoing campaign against the Iranian-backed Lebanese group.

Multiple Lebanese security sources confirmed that continuous Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, have hindered rescue efforts. Hezbollah has yet to comment on the status or whereabouts of Safieddine since the assault.

Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated on Friday that the military is still evaluating the results of the Thursday night airstrikes, which aimed at Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. The possible loss of Safieddine would strike another blow to Hezbollah and its patron, Iran, as recent Israeli offensives have significantly degraded Hezbollah’s leadership.

Israel has expanded its military operations in Lebanon, conducting its first strike in the northern city of Tripoli on Saturday. This escalation follows Israeli bombings in Dahiyeh and ground raids in southern Lebanon. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have steadily escalated, originally confined to skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border amidst Israel's broader military campaign in Gaza against Hamas.

The prolific Israeli strikes aim to secure the safety of northern Israeli residents, who have been under Hezbollah rocket attacks since October 8 of last year. These attacks have already claimed the lives of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a September 27 air attack, and numerous other senior military figures within the group.

The Lebanese security official revealed that Saturday's strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli killed a Hamas member, his wife, and two children. Palestinian media aligned with Hamas reported the death of a leader of their armed wing in the same strike.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have been incessantly targeting Dahiyeh, transforming the once densely populated area into rubble and forcing residents to seek refuge elsewhere. Israeli air raid alarms and subsequent rocket fire have kept northern Israeli residents repeatedly retreating to shelters.

The renewed violence heightens as the anniversary approaches of a major Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and about 250 hostages. Israel’s military response in Gaza has caused severe casualties and dislocation, resulting in nearly 42,000 deaths and displacing almost the entire population of 2.3 million, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The conflict has also seen Iran, a backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas, launching ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, which caused minimal damage. The Israeli response to this missile attack is still under consideration, with rising oil prices speculating an Israeli attack on Iranian oil facilities. U.S. President Joe Biden has advised Israel to explore alternatives to assaulting Iranian oil fields.

Reports indicate that Army General Michael Kurilla, the top U.S. general for the Middle East, is expected to visit Israel soon to discuss the escalating situation.