A senior Hezbollah official was among 12 people killed this afternoon by an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut, as the Gaza war front shifts toward Lebanon.

The Israeli airstrike is a new heavy blow to Hezbollah, following the deadly explosions of its communications devices in the previous days.

The UN, declaring “very concerned” about the situation in Lebanon after the Israeli strikes in that country, called for “de-escalation” and “maximum restraint”.

“We are very concerned about the increasing escalation around the Blue Line, including today’s deadly attacks in Beirut. We call on all sides to immediately de-escalate. The whole world must show maximum self-restraint,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the Secretary-General of the Organization, Antonio Guterres.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a terse statement saying Israel’s goals are clear and its actions speak for themselves, Israeli media reported.

The Israeli army also assured that it had no intention of increasing tensions in the region. “We are not acting with the intention of (causing) a major escalation in the region. We are acting according to the predetermined objectives (of the war) and we will continue to do so,” Israeli forces spokesman Vice Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters.

Earlier, a statement from the Israeli armed forces confirmed that the “targeted strike” in Beirut killed Ibrahim Akil, the commander of the Radwan unit, as well as “ten commanders” of Hezbollah, who were responsible for “daily rocket launches” towards Israeli terrain.

A source close to Hezbollah said Akil was killed while participating in a meeting with other commanders of the organization.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the dead are 12 and the wounded 66, of which 9 are hospitalized in a critical condition.

Akil is the second high-ranking Hezbollah military commander to be killed by Israel since the Lebanese group opened a southern front in Lebanon a year ago in a show of support for Palestinian Hamas in Gaza. The US had issued a $7 million fine against Akil for his involvement in the deadly, anti-American attacks in Beirut in 1983.

An AFP photojournalist who was at the scene of the attack saw a collapsed building and rescuers removing victims amid chaos.

“Targeting a residential, urban zone proves once again that the Israeli enemy does not take into account any humanitarian or legal factors,” said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

After the spectacular explosions of buzzers and portable radios, attributed to Israel, on Tuesday and Wednesday, clashes intensified on Thursday on the border between Lebanon and Israel. The Israeli military said about 140 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory by midday. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on several military bases and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warned of “horrible punishment” for Israel.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet tonight to discuss the situation in Lebanon.