Israel Announces Assassination of Hezbollah's "Southern Front" Leader and Expands Operations in Lebanon

SadaNews - Seven people were killed and around 30 others were injured on Wednesday as a result of an Israeli strike targeting the Al-Jnah area in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. This coincided with an announcement from the Israeli army executing a targeted operation in the city, claiming it resulted in the death of Haj Youssef Ismail Al-Hashim, whom they described as the leader of the "Southern Front" in Hezbollah, according to a statement from them.

The army claimed that Al-Hashim was responsible for managing the fighting in southern Lebanon, led the launch of rockets and drones, and oversaw the rehabilitation of the party's capabilities, noting that he had over 40 years of experience and that targeting him represents a "blow to Hezbollah's capabilities" to continue fighting.

Meanwhile, a security source told "France Presse" that "a senior Hezbollah leader, who is the military and security head of the Iraq file, named Youssef Hashim, nicknamed Abu Al-Sadiq, was killed in the strike on the Al-Jnah area in Beirut," explaining that "he was in a meeting with other party members inside a tent near several cars."

On the ground, Hezbollah announced carrying out rocket attacks targeting Israeli military and industrial sites, including the "Yodifat" military industries company and the "Mahaniyim" camp, in addition to targeting gatherings of soldiers and vehicles, and engaging in clashes with an Israeli force in the town of Shama, and hitting a military vehicle with a guided missile.

In turn, the Israeli army announced that forces from the 8th reserve brigade, under the command of the 91st division, began a "specific" ground operation in southern Lebanon to expand what they described as the "security area," claiming that the forces "killed dozens of fighters" and destroyed "dozens of infrastructures," including military sites and weapons depots.