Israel on Thursday claimed it eliminated the nephew of Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem in an overnight airstrike in Beirut. According to the Israeli military, the target was Ali Yusuf Harshi, who also served as Qassem’s personal secretary.
🔴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
The strike comes at a sensitive moment, just after a reported ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Despite this, tensions escalated rapidly as Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli actions in Lebanon.
Israel simultaneously launched what it described as its largest coordinated offensive in Lebanon, striking over 100 locations within minutes. The attacks hit both commercial and residential areas in Beirut, leaving around 250 people dead in one of the deadliest days of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Iran, the United States, and their allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all regions, including Lebanon.
The developments highlight a sharp contradiction between diplomatic efforts and ongoing military escalation in the region.
