Hezbollah chief’s secretary killed in Israeli strike on Beirut
text_fields
Israel’s military said on Thursday that it had killed a close adviser to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem in an air strike on Beirut.
The Israeli military said the strike killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, describing him as Qassem’s personal secretary, nephew, and close adviser.
According to the Israeli statement, Harshi played a central role in managing and securing Qassem’s office.
The strike took place a day after heavy Israeli attacks across Lebanon.
Earlier on Thursday, Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at Israel in response to what it called Israel’s violation of the US-Iran ceasefire.
Hezbollah said it launched rockets at the Israeli kibbutz of Manara near the Lebanese border.
Lebanon has declared a day of mourning after Israeli attacks killed more than 254 people and injured over 1,165 in a single day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
US Vice President JD Vance supported that position, saying, "We never made that promise."
However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government helped mediate the ceasefire, said the agreement included a pause in fighting in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said the terms of the ceasefire were clear and warned that the United States must choose between maintaining the truce or continuing the conflict through Israel.