"We condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli madness and arrogance that has exceeded all limits by targeting residential areas in Beirut's southern suburbs," the embassy posted on X.

The Israeli military said it had conducted a "targeted strike", while the Lebanese health ministry said the attack had killed eight people and wounded 59 more.

A source close to the Hezbollah movement said the strike had killed the head of its elite Radwan unit, Ibrahim Aqil.

"The Israeli air strike killed Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil, its armed force's second-in-command after Fuad Shukr," the source said.

Hezbollah has not officially confirmed his death, but it said after the strike that it had hit an Israeli intelligence base it claimed was responsible for unspecified "assassinations".

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.