Hezbollah chief Naim Qassems nephew killed in Beirut airstrike, claims Israel
The IDF said the strike was part of a larger operation targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and logistics network.
PTC News Desk: Israel Defense Forces said it has killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, who was the personal secretary to Naim Qassem, in an airstrike in Beirut.
In a post on X, the Israeli military described Harshi as a senior aide and close advisor who played an important role in managing and securing Qassem’s office.
The IDF said the strike was part of a larger operation targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and logistics network.
It added that the operation also included attacks on two key crossings used by Hezbollah to transport weapons south of the Litani River, along with around 10 weapons storage sites, launchers, and command centres in southern Lebanon. These locations were said to be linked to Hezbollah’s military operations, especially the movement and storage of weapons.
The reported strike comes as Israel steps up its attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to the Iran conflict.
According to Associated Press, Israeli strikes have hit both commercial and residential areas in Beirut as the fighting intensified.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 182 people were killed on Wednesday, making it the deadliest day so far in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
The report added that the renewed violence is putting pressure on diplomatic efforts related to a ceasefire involving Iran.
Iranian officials say that ending the conflict in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire understanding, but Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have stated that the truce does not apply to Lebanon.