Top Hezbollah Commander Among 14 Killed in Israeli Strike on Beirut

By Laila Bassam and Maayan Lubell

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM – An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday resulted in the death of a prominent Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Aqil, along with several other senior figures from the Lebanese militant group. This action signals a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah, which has persisted for about a year.

According to the Israeli military and a security source in Lebanon, Aqil was killed alongside other high-ranking members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit. Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death, referring to him as "one of its top leaders," but did not disclose details regarding the incident. In a subsequent statement, the group denounced his death as a "treacherous Israeli assassination," asserting that it took place in Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh district.

The Lebanese health ministry reported at least 14 casualties from the airstrike, with the count expected to rise as rescue efforts continued overnight. Initial reports also indicated that 66 individuals were injured, with nine in critical condition. According to a security source, the airstrike primarily targeted the entrance of a building’s garage, where multiple Hezbollah commanders had gathered.

Witnesses recounted a series of loud explosions occurring during the strike. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a brief statement reaffirming Israel’s military objectives, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that the military campaign on Israel’s northern border would persist until the safety of local residents was ensured.

The conflict, which intensified following Hezbollah’s rocketing of Israel in October 2023, has led to tens of thousands of evacuations on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel has expressed its commitment to use military force as necessary to allow its citizens to return safely to northern areas.

The Israeli military described Aqil as the acting commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan special forces, noting that he had been involved in strategic planning for raids against northern Israel—similar to the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas that ignited the ongoing Gaza war.

General Herzi Halevi, the chief of the Israeli army, stated, "The Hezbollah commanders we eliminated today had been planning their ‘October 7th’ on the northern border for years. We reached them, and we will reach anyone who threatens the security of Israel’s citizens."

Local broadcasters reported gatherings near the strike site with people searching for missing individuals, including children. Drones were observed flying over southern Beirut for hours after the incident.

The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon voiced concerns, labeling the airstrike in a densely populated area as part of a "dangerous cycle of violence" and calling for an immediate end to hostilities.

This incident marks the second attack on a high-ranking Hezbollah figure in Beirut in under two months, following the July airstrike that killed Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s top military commander.

Aqil was previously subject to a $7-million bounty placed by the United States due to his involvement in the 1983 bombing of U.S. Marines in Lebanon. The Israeli military indicated that Aqil had been leading Hezbollah operations since 2004 and was integral to plans for an assault on northern Israel.

Following the airstrike on Beirut, Israeli media reported rocket fire targeting northern Israel. Hezbollah claimed to have launched attacks using Katyusha rockets against what it described as an intelligence headquarters involved in previous assassinations.

This latest escalation in hostilities has raised significant concerns regarding the potential for wider conflict, assuring that while the situation has primarily been localized, the intensity and reach of military actions may be expanding.