IDF Targets Hezbollah Intelligence Operative Working Under Cover of Al-Manar Media Strike

The IDF confirmed an airstrike killing Ali Shoeib, an Al-Manar reporter identified as a Radwan Force intelligence agent operating in southern Lebanon.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 10:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A High Profile Elimination in the Jezzine District

The Israeli military executed a targeted aerial strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of Ali Shoeib, a well-known media figure associated with the Hezbollah organization. The operation, which took place in the town of Jezzine, also reportedly claimed the life of Fatima Ftouni, a journalist representing the Al-Mayadeen channel. While initial reports from Lebanese media focused on the victims as members of the press, the Israel Defense Forces quickly issued a formal confirmation detailing the underlying military objectives behind the specific targeting of the vehicle.

Dual Roles Within the Radwan Force Intelligence Apparatus

According to official military statements from the IDF, Shoeib was far more than a television correspondent for the Al-Manar network. Israeli intelligence services identified him as a functional member of the Radwan Force, an elite Hezbollah commando unit, specifically assigned to its intelligence gathering wing. The military alleges that Shoeib leveraged his professional access and press credentials to monitor and document the precise positions of Israeli soldiers. This dual identity allowed him to operate near sensitive border zones where he could relay tactical information back to his commanders while maintaining the appearance of a civilian media employee.

The Tactical Significance of Border Surveillance Efforts

Throughout the ongoing conflict involving Iranian-backed forces, Shoeib allegedly remained active in his surveillance duties along the volatile border between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF contends that his primary mission involved exposing the locations of Israeli ground troops to facilitate attacks by Hezbollah militants. By working under the guise of a reporter, he was able to maintain continuous communication with other operatives in the Radwan Force, creating a bridge between psychological warfare and direct kinetic intelligence that posed a persistent threat to units operating in the northern sector.