The has claimed that it has eliminated top Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s nephew in strikes in Lebanon. The IDF said Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and close adviser to Hezbollah Secretary-General Qassem, was killed in a strike in Beirut.
Harshi was a key figure inside Hezbollah’s leadership circle, involved in managing and securing the secretary-general’s operations.
“ELIMINATED: Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in Beirut. A close associate and personal advisor, Harshi played a key role in managing and securing Qassem’s office. The IDF also struck two key crossings used by Hezbollah to move weapons south of the Litani River, along with ~10 weapons storage sites, launchers and command centers in southern Lebanon.,” the IDF said in a statement.
Hezbollah is yet to confirm the IDF’s claim.
Israel unleashes massive overnight strikes in Lebanon
Overnight, Israeli forces struck major Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon, including key transit routes used to move weapons across the Litani River, as well as weapons depots, launchers, and command centers in southern Lebanon. The deadly Israeli strikes hit central Beirut despite a ceasefire announcement in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Israel has made it clear that the ceasefire doesn’t apply to its fight with Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah has also not agreed to the ceasefire.