1 min readApr 9, 2026 02:30 PM IST
Israel on Thursday said that it had killed the nephew of Naim Qassem, head of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, in an overnight air strike on Beirut.
The Israeli military said in a post on X said they had targeted and killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, who was the nephew as well as personal secretary of Naim Qassem in the strike overnight.
🔴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…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 9, 2026
Israel’s claim comes amid the recent ceasefire deal between US and Iran. On Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, reports the Associated Press.
At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut. More than 250 people were killed Wednesday in the deadliest day of fighting there.
