The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Saturday that it eliminated Ali Hassan Shaib (also referred to as Ali Shoeib or Ali Shaib), a longtime correspondent for Hezbollah’s official Al-Manar television network, in a targeted strike in southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, Shaib was not a civilian journalist but a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, an elite unit trained for cross-border infiltrations and attacks on Israeli territory.
The IDF stated that Shaib had operated for years under the cover of journalism while actively supporting terrorist activities. “Ali Hassan Shaib, a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist who operated for years under the guise of a journalist for the ‘Al-Manar’ network,” the military said. He allegedly exposed IDF troop positions in southern Lebanon and maintained direct contact with other Hezbollah operatives to coordinate operations and gather intelligence.
The strike, which also reportedly killed Al-Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni in the same vehicle near Jezzine, highlights Israel’s ongoing efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, even as the group uses media outlets for propaganda and operational cover. Hezbollah and Lebanese sources described Shaib as a civilian journalist killed while reporting, condemning the action as an attack on the press.
Broader Context of the Ongoing Conflict
This incident occurs amid a renewed and escalating multi-front war that erupted in early March 2026, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Hezbollah, acting in solidarity with Iran, resumed rocket, missile, and drone attacks on Israel after a fragile ceasefire that had held since November 2024. Since March 2, the group has claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks targeting Israeli military positions and civilian areas, including long-range strikes reaching central Israel such as Tel Aviv.
Israeli forces have responded with intense airstrikes, ground raids, and artillery operations across southern and eastern Lebanon. The IDF has reported killing dozens of Hezbollah operatives in recent days, including members of the Radwan Force, while destroying weapons caches, command centers, and terror infrastructure. Lebanese health authorities report over 1,100 deaths in Lebanon since the escalation began, including civilians, with more than one million people displaced—roughly 20% of the country’s population—creating a severe humanitarian crisis. Israeli casualties include at least four soldiers killed in Lebanon and around 19 civilians killed by missile and rocket fire inside Israel, with thousands more injured from direct hits or falling debris.
Regional Escalations Involving Yemen and Iran
The conflict has drawn in additional Iranian proxies. Earlier today, the IDF detected and intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by the Houthi rebels, marking their first direct attack on Israel in this phase of the war. Sirens sounded in southern Israel, including areas near Beersheba and the nuclear research center at Dimona. No injuries were reported from the interception. Houthis claimed responsibility, stating the attack would continue until “aggression” against Iran and its allies ends.
Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi-controlled ports and energy facilities in Yemen in response to previous attacks. The fighting has also involved direct Iranian missile and drone barrages toward Israel, with Israeli and U.S. forces intercepting most threats while conducting counterstrikes on Iranian military sites.