Israel Reports Attack on Hezbollah Intelligence Headquarters in Beirut and Killing of 'Mohammad Youssef Anisi'

The Israeli Defense Forces announced that fighter jets attacked Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Beirut at the beginning of the week, killing a senior official of the group's 'Weapons Production Department'. The Israeli army identified this official as 'Mohammad Youssef Anisi', describing him as a key figure in Hezbollah's arms production, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the National News Agency of Lebanon reported four airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. A source close to Hezbollah also told AFP that the group's media relations office and a warehouse near the airport were targeted in these attacks. Additionally, Israel urged residents of over 20 towns and villages in the Nabatieh province, located in central and southern Lebanon, to evacuate the areas immediately. Developments on the northern front come as Israel, while bombing Hezbollah positions in Beirut, began its ground offensive in southern Lebanon last week, announcing it would ensure the safe return of over 60,000 Israelis who were displaced due to Hezbollah's attacks last year. The battle between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, which began on October 8 of last year, one day after the terrorist attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, has recently escalated with the killing of Hezbollah's leader in an Israeli airstrike. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed on Friday, October 6, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Both the Israeli army and Hezbollah confirmed his death on Saturday morning, October 7. Nasrallah was a founding member of Hezbollah and, after Subhi al-Tufayli and Abbas Musawi, the third Secretary-General of Hezbollah. He was one of the most loyal commanders of the Islamic Republic's proxy forces to Ali Khamenei and had avoided public appearances for years out of fear of being killed, but ultimately became a target of Israeli bombers, with his body retrieved from the ruins of Hezbollah's main headquarters in Beirut. The United States supported Israel's approach in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Satellite images showed damage to part of an airbase in Israel following a missile attack by the IRGC. A Reuters report discussed which Iranian nuclear facilities might be potential targets for Israel. There has been a widespread exodus of foreign citizens from Lebanon amid Israeli attacks. The hashtag 'War is Very Scary' has gained traction, emphasizing 45 years of unequal war with the regime.