Israel Says It Killed Iranian Quds Force Operative in Southern Lebanon Strike

Israel says it killed a senior Iranian Quds Force operative in a strike in southern Lebanon, accusing him of planning attacks against Israel from Lebanon and Syria, amid heightened tensions following recent clashes between Israel and Iran.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had killed a member of Iran’s elite Quds Force in a strike carried out in southern Lebanon, accusing him of coordinating and planning attacks against Israel from Lebanese and Syrian territory.
The individual was identified as Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari, whom Israeli authorities described as a key operative within Unit 840 of the Quds Force. Unit 840 is part of the foreign operations wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is believed by Israel to be responsible for planning covert operations beyond Iran’s borders.
According to an Israeli military statement, al-Jawhari was assassinated in the Ansariyeh area of southern Lebanon. The army did not disclose details about the nature of the strike, the weapon used, or whether there were additional casualties.
Israel said al-Jawhari was operating under the direct command of the IRGC and was involved in what it described as “terror activities” orchestrated by Iran against Israel and its security forces. The military alleged that his activities posed an imminent threat to Israeli interests in the region.
There was no immediate response from Iranian or Lebanese officials regarding the reported killing. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran following a brief but intense 12-day conflict between the two countries in June, which marked one of the most direct confrontations between them in recent years.
That conflict began when Israel launched strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, as well as residential areas. Israeli officials said the attacks were aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear research infrastructure and its ballistic missile program. Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory.
During the escalation, the United States later joined Israel in briefly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities before international efforts led to the declaration of a ceasefire, bringing an end to the fighting.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon, stating that the operations are intended to prevent the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group from rebuilding its military strength and restoring weapons capabilities damaged during earlier confrontations.
A US-backed ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the terms of the deal, Hezbollah was expected to gradually disarm, beginning in areas south of the Litani River near the Israeli border, in an effort to reduce cross-border tensions.
Iran, which does not recognize Israel as a state, has long accused Israel of conducting sabotage operations and targeted assassinations, particularly against Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures linked to its strategic programs.
Tehran also supports armed groups across the Middle East 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, further entrenching regional instability.
Separately on Thursday, Israeli authorities announced the arrest of an Israeli citizen suspected of carrying out security-related offenses under the direction of Iranian intelligence services, underscoring ongoing concerns about espionage and covert operations linked to the long-running rivalry between Israel and Iran.