Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

The Israeli military said it had killed senior Hezbollah commander Hajj Youssef Ismail Hashem, who led the group’s southern front, in a strike on Beirut. Hezbollah confirmed his death, describing it as a serious loss.

The attack is among the most significant since the killing of Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in 2025. Hashem had emerged as a key figure after much of the group’s senior leadership was killed in Israeli strikes in 2024.

The strike caused further casualties, with at least seven people reported dead and dozens wounded. The target appears to have been a meeting of several commanders. The attack was reportedly launched from the sea, a tactic the group did not expect.

Analysts said that despite the loss, Hezbollah retains a functioning chain of command and is likely to replace him quickly.

(reuters, pir)