Israeli army says Hezbollah southern front commander Youssef Ismail Hashem killed in Beirut strike

The Israeli army said it killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike in Beirut, identifying him as Youssef Ismail Hashem, known as "Hajj Youssef."

In a statement, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the operation was carried out by naval forces a day earlier in the Lebanese capital.

According to the statement, Hashem headed Hezbollah's southern front unit, which Israel says is responsible for coordinating attacks against Israeli territory and engaging Israeli forces in South Lebanon. The military said he oversaw rocket and drone launches and played a role in rebuilding the group's military capabilities.

The statement described Hashem as a veteran commander with more than four decades of experience, adding that he had taken over the position following the killing of Ali Karaki and Hezbollah's late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in a previous Israeli operation.

Israeli officials said Hashem had also been responsible over the years for units known as Nasr, Aziz, and Badr, which they said were involved in combat operations against Israeli forces along the border.