Beirut strike kills Hezbollah chief’s nephew as Israel escalates Lebanon offensive

Israel on April 9 said it had killed Ali Yusuf Harshi—nephew and personal advisor to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem—in an overnight strike in Beirut, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing offensive in Lebanon.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said Harshi served as a close associate and played a central role in managing Qassem’s office. “The IDF eliminated the secretary to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in Beirut,” the military said, adding that the strike was part of a broader overnight operation targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

The Israeli military said it also hit two strategic crossings used by the Iran-backed group to transport weapons, rockets and launchers across the Litani River, along with around 10 weapons storage facilities, launch sites and command centres in southern Lebanon.

Strikes intensify despite ceasefire backdrop

The latest attack comes even as a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place, with Israel making clear that its operations in Lebanon fall outside the truce.

“The battle in Lebanon continues, and the ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, echoing remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On April 8, Israel carried out its heaviest bombardment of Lebanon since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, striking more than 100 Hezbollah command centres and military sites in Beirut.

Rising toll and humanitarian strain

The escalation has triggered a sharp rise in casualties. Since March 2, when Hezbollah began launching rockets at Israel in support of Iran, more than 1,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon, including 130 children and over 100 women.

April 8 strikes alone left at least 254 people dead and nearly 900 injured, prompting Lebanese authorities to declare a national day of mourning. By late March, over 400 Hezbollah fighters had also been killed, according to Reuters.

Diplomatic tensions simmer

Amid the violence, US Vice President JD Vance said Israel had indicated a willingness to show restraint while US-Iran negotiations continue, according to Axios. He also described a “legitimate misunderstanding” between Washington and Tehran regarding whether the ceasefire extends to Lebanon.

The developments underline the fragile nature of the truce and the growing risk of a broader regional escalation, as Israel continues to press its military campaign against Hezbollah beyond the scope of the US-Iran agreement.