Beirut strike kills Hezbollah leader’s close associate as Israel expands attacks

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a senior aide to Hezbollah’s leadership in a strike in Beirut, while also carrying out a series of overnight attacks on the group’s infrastructure in Lebanon.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), the IDF struck in the Beirut area and eliminated Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem,” a statement by the IDF said.

The military described Harshi as “a close associate and personal advisor” to Naim Qassem, adding that he “played a central role in managing and securing his office.”

The announcement comes amid continued Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah positions across Lebanon. The IDF said that overnight strikes focused on key logistical routes and weapons facilities used by the group.

“Overnight, the IDF struck two key crossings used by Hezbollah terrorists and commanders for movement from north to south of the Litani River in Lebanon to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and launchers,” the statement said.

In addition, the military reported that “approximately 10 weapons storage facilities, launchers, and command centers used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in southern Lebanon were struck.”

By Vafa Guliyeva