09.04.2026 11:11
While Israel's attacks on Lebanon continue, the army announced that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem was claimed to have been killed. Later, the statement was corrected to say, "It was not Qassem, but his nephew who was killed." No statement has yet been made from the Hezbollah side regarding the death of Ali Yusuf Harshi.
As tensions rise in the Middle East, the Israeli army claimed that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem was killed. However, in their second announcement, the army retracted this claim, stating that it was not Qassem but his nephew and advisor Ali Yusuf Harshi who was killed.
HEZBOLLAH HAS NOT MADE A STATEMENT
These claims, raised after Israel's intense air bombardment across Lebanon, have not yet been confirmed by the Hezbollah army.
254 DEAD IN LEBANON IN ONE DAY
Meanwhile, Lebanon declared Thursday a national day of mourning after at least 254 people were killed and more than 1,156 injured in Israeli airstrikes.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam ordered the closure of all public institutions, government offices, and municipalities.
It was stated that due to the national mourning, flags would be flown at half-mast tomorrow, and radio and television broadcasts would be arranged to reflect the magnitude of the losses.
Describing the deaths of at least 254 people in Israeli attacks and the injuries of more than 1,156 as a 'national tragedy', Prime Minister Salam said, “We extend our deepest condolences to the people of Lebanon and especially to the families of the martyrs.”
ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER KATZ HAD THREATENED
Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz had threatened to assassinate Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem following the violent attacks they carried out across Lebanon.
Katz claimed that Qassem's fate would be similar to that of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, and former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom they targeted for assassination, stating, "Qassem was warned that the cost of attacking Israel on behalf of Iran would be very heavy for Hezbollah and that his turn would also come."