Israeli Navy Strike in Beirut Kills Quds Force Operative Linked to Planned Terror Attacks

Israel’s military confirms a Navy strike killed Muhammad Ali Kourani of Iran’s Quds Force in Beirut, following intelligence on planned terror attacks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 12:39 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from authorities via military announcements and local reporting from Beirut.

Precision Maritime Strike Targets Iranian Intelligence Asset in Lebanese Capital

The Israel Defense Forces have announced the successful elimination of a key Iranian operative following a precision strike by the Israeli Navy in Beirut. Muhammad Ali Kourani, identified as a member of the Quds Force—the specialized extraterritorial unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—was killed during the operation on Monday. According to military statements released on March 24, 2026, the strike was the culmination of a joint intelligence effort between the Navy and the Shin Bet security agency, aimed at neutralizing high-value targets operating within Lebanon’s urban center.

Disrupting Iranian-Directed Operational Networks in Beirut

The IDF’s primary justification for the operation centered on Kourani’s active role in coordinating hostilities against Israeli interests. Military officials stated that Kourani had been instrumental in advancing various terror attacks under the direct supervision of Iranian intelligence officials. By removing a primary coordinator from the Quds Force’s local infrastructure, the IDF aims to degrade the immediate command and control capabilities of Iranian-linked networks currently utilizing Lebanese territory as a staging ground for regional operations.

Intelligence Penetration and the Hazmieh Apartment Raid

Local reports indicate the strike targeted a specific apartment in the Hazmieh neighborhood, an area east of central Beirut that hosts several foreign embassies and is near the presidential palace. Lebanese media noted that Kourani had reportedly survived a previous assassination attempt at a hotel in Baabda weeks earlier. The successful tracking of his movements to a residential building reflects a high level of intelligence penetration by the Shin Bet, which provided the specific coordinates necessary for the Navy to execute the strike with precision.