Israel says Iran's Quds Force operative killed in Lebanon

Amid regional tension and diplomatic uncertainty, Israel reported the targeted killing of an Iranian operative in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had killed a member of Iran’s elite Quds Force in a strike in southern Lebanon, accusing him of planning attacks against Israel from Lebanon and Syria.

The man was identified as Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari, whom Israel described as a key operative in Unit 840 of the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to a military statement, al-Jawhari was assassinated in the Ansariyeh area. No further details about the strike were provided.

Israel accuses Iran of directing attacks

The Israeli military said al-Jawhari operated under the IRGC and was involved in what it described as "terror activities" directed by Iran against Israel and its security forces.

There was no immediate comment from Iranian or Lebanese officials on the reported killing. The strike comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, following a brief but intense 12-day war in June.

The conflict began when Israel launched strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, as well as residential areas. Israel said the strikes were intended to cripple Iran’s nuclear research and ballistic missile programs. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel.

During the fighting, the United States later joined Israel in briefly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities before a ceasefire was declared.

Strikes continue in Lebanon

Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, saying it is seeking to prevent the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities.

A US-backed ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The deal called for the gradual disarmament of the group, beginning in areas south of the Litani River near the Israeli border.

Iran, which does not recognize Israel, has long accused the country of carrying out sabotage operations and assassinations targeting Iranian nuclear scientists.

Tehran also supports armed groups across the region as part of what it calls the "axis of resistance," including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Israel has fought major conflicts with both groups in recent years.

On Thursday, Israeli authorities announced the arrest of an Israeli citizen suspected of committing security-related offenses under the direction of Iranian intelligence services.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko