An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday killed senior Hezbollah military official Ibrahim Aqil, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced. Lebanese officials confirmed that the strike resulted in at least eight deaths and left 59 wounded. However, Hezbollah has not yet confirmed Aqil’s death.
The airstrike reportedly targeted two residential buildings in southern Beirut, where Aqil, head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and Jihad Council, was located. Aqil has been on the U.S. Department of State’s radar for decades, having been sanctioned for his role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut. The bombing, carried out by a suicide attacker, killed 63 people, including 52 embassy employees. In 2019, the State Department designated Aqil as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and offered a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to his capture.
Reports indicate that alongside Aqil, around 20 senior Hezbollah terrorists from the Radwan Force were also killed in the strike.
The airstrike came hours after Hezbollah launched approximately 120 rockets into northern Israel on Friday, part of a continuous barrage of rocket fire in support of Hamas since October 7. The conflict has led to tens of thousands of Israelis fleeing northern Israel, where many remain evacuated from their homes.
The region has been on edge for days, especially after a recent Israeli attack targeting Hezbollah’s communication systems. The IDF used sophisticated methods to destroy the group’s pagers and walkie-talkies, disrupting their communications and wounding thousands. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah responded by calling the Israeli actions an “act of war” and vowed retaliation.
On Thursday, the IDF also announced the destruction of “hundreds of rocket launcher barrels” in southern Lebanon. These launchers were allegedly being prepared for immediate use to target Israel.
In the midst of escalating tensions, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to defending Israel while emphasizing efforts toward a diplomatic resolution. “We are committed to the defense of Israel against terrorist organizations. That includes Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies,” Miller said. However, he stressed that the U.S. seeks to prevent further escalation, urging all parties to avoid heightening the conflict.
