The link between Iran and Hezbollah: A Quds Force official killed in Lebanon

Israel has killed an Iranian Quds Force official in a strike targeting him in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The Israeli military stated that it had eliminated the official responsible for Hezbollah’s military buildup on behalf of the Quds Force. It noted that the Israeli navy carried out a strike on Monday in the Beirut area, based on intelligence provided by the Military Intelligence Directorate, killing “Reza Khazai,” who was in charge of Hezbollah’s military buildup file on behalf of the Quds Force and also served as chief of staff of the Lebanon Corps within the force.

It added that, in his role, Khazai was the right-hand man of the commander of the Lebanon Corps and was considered a central figure in the process of strengthening Hezbollah’s military capabilities.

According to the Israeli military, he was responsible for coordinating between Hezbollah and Iran, particularly aligning Hezbollah’s needs with the resources supplied by Tehran.

It further stated that in this position, he oversaw extensive operations within the Lebanon Corps and inside Hezbollah, including the transfer of Iranian weapons and equipment, the implementation of the group’s military buildup plan, and its reconstruction following the operation known as “Northern Arrows.”

He was also said to have helped consolidate routes for transferring military equipment from Iran to Lebanon and to have supported Hezbollah’s weapons production plans on Lebanese soil.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army began a ground incursion into southern Lebanon following shelling of several targets, including sites in the capital, Beirut.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it was working to create an additional security layer for residents of northern Israel by launching large-scale strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure, adding that it aimed to thwart threats and prevent any attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory.

It added that Hezbollah had chosen to join the battle and act under Iranian direction and would bear the consequences of its actions, referring to the group’s rocket launches toward Israel in support of Iran, which has been subjected to U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the Israeli army to advance and seize additional areas in Lebanon in order to prevent shelling of Israeli border towns.

He stressed that Hezbollah would pay a heavy price for firing on Israel, noting that the purpose of the incursion was to prevent any possibility of direct attacks on Israeli settlements.

Israel currently controls five positions since its last war with Hezbollah.

The ground incursion came as warning sirens sounded in Upper Galilee, while Hezbollah targeted Israeli bases in northern Israel.

On Tuesday, the group announced that it had struck three Israeli bases in the north, as Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs and several towns in southern Lebanon prior to launching the ground operation.