Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the targeted elimination of Abu Ali Salameh, a Hezbollah liaison officer operating in the village of Yanouh in southern Lebanon, on Wednesday.
According to the IDF, Salameh managed Hezbollah’s activities in Yanouh with the aim of embedding terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas and exploiting local residents to advance the group’s goals.
“The terrorist managed Hezbollah’s activities in the village of Yanouh, enabling the organization to operate in civilian areas and embed terrorist infrastructures in the heart of the population,” the IDF spokesperson said.
The operation follows an incident on December 13, 2025, when the IDF requested the enforcement of a Hezbollah weapons warehouse in Yanouh. Salameh allegedly received the report from the Lebanese Army and relayed it to Hezbollah operatives, who subsequently blocked the army’s attempt to dismantle the warehouse and moved the weapons to avoid seizure.
He later agreed with the Lebanese Army to document the property as empty, while suspicious materials were reportedly removed from the site, the IDF said.
The IDF stressed that Salameh’s actions violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and said it would continue taking measures to neutralize threats.
Israel is enforcing a ceasefire reached in late 2024. The IDF reported killing around 380 Hezbollah operatives and striking roughly 950 to 1,000 targets in 2025. These included launchers, weapons depots, military structures, and underground shafts. The IDF also accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire about 1,920 times during the year.
The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon and prohibits it from operating south of the Litani River.
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