JERUSALEM -- Israel killed Hussein Makled, the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters, in an overnight strike, the Israeli military said on Monday.

Meklad was appointed in 2024 after his predecessor, Hussein Hazima, was assassinated during cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

The military said that the intelligence headquarters is responsible for building the intelligence picture on Israel, adding that it "leads and directs Hezbollah's intelligence activities against Israel and centralizes the organization's strategic information gathering capabilities."

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs since morning have killed at least 31 and injured 149, according to an update from the Lebanese Health Ministry

Israel said it launched the offensive after Hezbollah fired rockets and drones towards its territory, citing retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.