The Israeli military announced Thursday that it killed Ali Yusef Harshi, the personal secretary to Hezbollah leader Naim Qasem, during a series of airstrikes against Lebanon.
Harshi, who is also the nephew of Qasem, died during an attack on the capital, Beirut. The Israeli military described him as a central figure in managing Qasem’s office and security.
“Harshi was a close person and personal advisor to Qasem and played a central role in the management of his office and his security,” the Israeli army stated.
Strikes target Litani River infrastructure
Israeli forces also confirmed the destruction of two additional bridges over the Litani River during the latest operations. This brings the total number of targeted bridges to nine over recent weeks.
Israel claims Hezbollah militants used these crossings to move thousands of weapons, rockets, and launchers between the north and south sides of the river.
Additional strikes hit approximately ten warehouses and headquarters used by the group in southern Lebanon. These recent operations have resulted in at least 17 deaths in two Lebanese towns, following a larger wave of strikes on Wednesday that left over 250 dead and nearly 1,000 injured.
The intensified bombardment follows conflicting reports regarding a potential ceasefire. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Iran, the United States, and their allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all regions, specifically mentioning Lebanon.
Israel and the White House quickly disputed that claim. White House spokesperson Karoline Levitt stated that Lebanon was not part of the agreement.
Iran has since criticized the clarification, pointing to Sharif’s earlier mediation efforts which explicitly included Lebanon in the proposed cessation of hostilities.
