Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah military commander, was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Aqil, who held a prominent position within Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, was one of several high-ranking operatives killed in the strike, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
This marks the most intense Israeli strike on Beirut since July, when another Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, was killed. The attack is part of a broader cross-border conflict that has intensified in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Strike and its Aftermath
The airstrike hit the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut, a densely populated area known as a Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanese officials reported that at least 14 people were killed, with dozens more injured. Emergency teams rushed to the site, where they faced chaotic scenes as they rescued the wounded and searched for people trapped under the rubble. At least one residential building collapsed, and several others were heavily damaged. Hezbollah members cordoned off the streets, visibly shaken by the devastation.
Israel justified the strike by claiming that the Hezbollah commanders targeted were involved in planning a large-scale attack on Israeli territory. According to IDF reports, the group was hiding in civilian areas, using residential buildings as shields while coordinating Hezbollah’s long-standing “Conquer the Galilee” operation, an infiltration plan designed to target Israeli civilians.
Hagari stated that Aqil and his fellow commanders were responsible for planning future Hezbollah offensives aimed at penetrating Israeli borders. This is part of the broader cross-border hostilities that have persisted since the war between Hamas and Israel broke out in early October 2023. Israel claims the strike disrupted key Hezbollah operations and dismantled elements of the group’s leadership.
Hezbollah’s Response and Global Reactions
Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death on social media, describing him as one of its “great jihadist leaders.” His death comes amid a string of attacks on Hezbollah’s communication systems. Earlier in the week, dozens were killed in explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, an unprecedented event that Lebanese officials have blamed on Israel. The simultaneous blasts, which occurred during funerals for victims of earlier attacks, deepened the sense of unease across the region.
In response, Hezbollah launched strikes on military sites in northern Israel, firing over 140 rockets, according to the IDF. Israel, in turn, has continued airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah’s rocket launchers and weapons storage facilities. The ongoing violence has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border.
Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have accused Israel of deliberately undermining ceasefire efforts and escalating the conflict. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib addressed the UN Security Council, accusing Israel of sabotaging diplomatic attempts to halt the violence.
Warnings of Escalation
The strike comes amid growing fears of a wider regional conflict. UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo warned that the situation could spiral into a devastating war that would dwarf the destruction witnessed so far. “We risk seeing a conflagration that could dwarf even the devastation and suffering witnessed so far,” DiCarlo told the UN Security Council.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are ongoing, with the United States and the United Kingdom advising their citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon. The White House has also indicated that it is involved in active diplomacy aimed at preventing a broader conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Despite calls for restraint, the violence shows no sign of abating. Both Hezbollah and Israel have indicated that they are not seeking a wider conflict, yet the continued exchange of attacks and the targeting of senior military figures on both sides suggests that the situation could rapidly spiral out of control. As Lebanon grapples with the fallout from these strikes, the region remains on edge, with the possibility of further escalation looming over an already tense landscape.
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