Hezbollah did not immediately confirm the death of Ibrahim Aqeel. The United States had accused him of being involved in bombings that killed more than 200 U.S. Marines and many others in Beirut in 1983.

The strike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in Lebanon's capital is a major escalation adding to fears of an all-out war.

Hezbollah has pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets, a day after the militant group’s leader vowed to retaliate against Israel for a mass bombing attack, the Israeli military and the militant group said.