Israel’s military has announced the death of Hashem Safieddine, a key Hezbollah leader and the man widely believed to be the successor of the group’s longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah, in a targeted airstrike three weeks ago on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Israel has stepped up strikes on the city’s southern suburbs in recent days, an area Israeli officials say hosts Hezbollah militants and infrastructure.

Hezbollah is considering a US-Israeli ceasefire proposal, sources told CNN, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group intensify.