The Israel Defense Forces continued its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza -- particularly in the north of the strip -- and in Lebanon, with Israeli attacks on targets nationwide including in the capital Beirut.

Israel has dramatically escalated its bombardment of Lebanon since September, vowing to severely weaken Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets and drones at Israel since it launched its air and ground assault on Gaza over a year ago.

Israel killed Hezbollah’s chief spokesman in a rare central Beirut airstrike. An anonymous Hezbollah official confirmed the death of Mohammed Afif to the Associated Press, while two Lebanese security sources confirmed it to Reuters.

The latest in a series of targeted killings of senior Hezbollah officials came as Lebanese officials were considering a United States-led cease-fire proposal.

Israeli airstrikes targeted a neighborhood in the heart of Lebanon’s capital, slamming into an area of Beirut near the Parliament, several embassies and the U.N. headquarters