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Lebanese authorities reported widespread carnage in Beirut’s Hezbollah stronghold after an Israeli airstrike on Friday, resulting in 12 fatalities and dozens of injuries. The attack also claimed the life of the commander of Hezbollah’s elite fighting force, Israel disclosed.
As the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, Ibrahim Aqil was a key figure in the Iran-backed organization. His notorious past included playing a role in the 1983 bombing of the US embassy in Beirut, which had earned him a spot on the US most-wanted list.
Eyewitnesses from AFP reported widespread destruction at the scene, with a colossal crater and extensive damage to the lower levels of a high-rise structure in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a bastion of Hezbollah support.
Hezbollah has suffered another significant blow with the death of Ibrahim Aqil, the second top commander to be killed in Israeli strikes since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza. This comes after Fuad Shukr fell victim to a similar operation in Beirut just months earlier.
The targeted killing of Ibrahim Aqil follows a series of mysterious explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday, which destroyed communication equipment used by Hezbollah operatives. Hezbollah attributed these blasts, which claimed dozens of lives and severely disrupted operations, to Israeli action.
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The incidents have significantly redirected attention towards Lebanon amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Israeli military said Friday it conducted a “targeted strike” to kill Aqil and which also killed around 10 other senior Radwan commanders.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, the devastating attack resulted in 12 fatalities and left 66 others injured, significantly adding to the humanitarian toll.
A confidential source with ties to Hezbollah, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, confirmed that Ibrahim Aqil was among those killed in the strike.
“The Israeli air strike killed Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil, its armed force’s second-in-command after Fuad Shukr,” the source close to Hezbollah said.
Although Hezbollah has yet to publicly acknowledge Aqil’s death, the group retaliated with rocket fire against an Israeli intelligence base, alleging involvement in unspecified “assassinations” and implying a direct connection to the strike.
Aqil was a high-priority target, with the US offering a $7 million reward for intelligence leading to his capture. Authorities linked him to Hezbollah’s notorious 1983 embassy bombing, which resulted in 63 fatalities.
