The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that they conducted a strike in Beirut targeting the commander accused of orchestrating the recent attack on a children’s soccer field. 

In a post on X, the IDF stated that their forces “carried out a targeted strike, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians.” 

“At the moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines. If any changes will be made, an update will be released. Details to follow,” the post said.

“Hezbollah crossed the red line,” Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant wrote on X.

The strike comes in response to the deaths of 12 children and teens in a rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights over the weekend. 

A source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that Gallant will speak with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin later Tuesday. 

“This was about sending a clear message. We don’t want to see a wider war,” a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel. “Now this is in the hands of Hezbollah. Within 24 hours after the rocket attack in the Golan Heights, this response was being discussed among other options.”

The details of the strike were not immediately clear but came around the same time a loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke was seen rising above the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, J Post reported. 

According to the Times of Israel, several reports name the targeted commander as Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, who is a senior adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.