Israel says a targeted navy strike in Beirut killed senior Hezbollah commander Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashem, who led the group’s Southern Front operations in Lebanon. The IDF said he oversaw rocket fire, drone attacks, and operational planning against Israeli territory. According to Israel, the strike was conducted with intelligence support and targeted a key figure responsible for rebuilding Hezbollah’s military capabilities along the northern front. Hashem reportedly had decades of experience and played a central role in coordinating attacks.

Tensions in the Middle East surge once again as Beirut’s southern outskirts and nearby regions come under intense Israeli airstrikes in a coordinated twin attack. At least seven people have been killed and twenty-four others injured, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, as multiple moving vehicles were reportedly targeted in rapid succession. The strikes hit key areas including Khaldeh and Jnah, triggering panic across the capital’s periphery and raising fresh concerns over civilian safety. While initial reports indicate the possibility of high-value targets, Israeli military officials have not confirmed casualties among Hezbollah leadership, even as they acknowledge pursuing senior commanders in the Beirut area. WATCH