Israeli Airstrike Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander in Beirut Amid Growing Fears of Wider Conflict
A top Hezbollah military leader, Ibrahim Aqil, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut Friday, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict and raising concerns of a broader war. Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death following Israel’s announcement that several senior Hezbollah figures were killed in the strike.
The Lebanese government reported at least 14 fatalities and dozens of injuries from the attack, which targeted Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. The densely populated area saw widespread destruction, with emergency teams scrambling to rescue survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings. Among the chaos, Hezbollah members cordoned off streets, visibly shaken by the devastation.
Friday’s airstrike is the most significant attack on Beirut since July when Hezbollah’s military head Fuad Shukr was also killed. This latest blow comes in the wake of a series of attacks earlier in the week that crippled Hezbollah’s communications systems, further straining the group.
U.S. Target Ibrahim Aqil Killed
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Aqil, a high-ranking commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, was among those killed. The group had been hiding in an underground bunker beneath a residential building, Hagari said, using civilians as human shields. The Israeli military also stated that the operatives were plotting Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” plan, which aimed to infiltrate Israeli territory to carry out attacks on civilian targets.
Aqil, also known by his alias Tahsin, was on the U.S. government’s radar for years, with a reward offered for information leading to his arrest due to his involvement in attacks dating back to the 1980s, including bombings of U.S. military personnel in Beirut. Hezbollah lauded him as a “great jihadist leader” following his death.
Cross-Border Tensions Escalate
The situation at the Lebanon-Israel border has deteriorated significantly since Hezbollah began launching rockets at northern Israeli positions in solidarity with Hamas following the deadly attacks on Israel on October 7. On Friday, Hezbollah fired over 140 rockets into Israel, triggering retaliatory strikes from the Israeli military, which targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and rocket launch sites in southern Lebanon. Israeli authorities have warned that they are shifting focus to the northern front as the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies.
Meanwhile, the violence has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border, and civilian casualties continue to rise, particularly among Hezbollah fighters. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that Israel would not permit Hezbollah to escalate its provocations further.
Diplomatic Standoff and International Warnings
The U.S. and UK governments have both urged their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon, with the UK warning of potential evacuations. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation are in full swing, but tensions remain high. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib accused Israel of undermining ceasefire talks, while Israel’s UN representative, Danny Danon, maintained that Israel does not seek a larger war but will defend itself against Hezbollah’s aggression.
As the situation continues to develop, global powers are working urgently to prevent a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, while the people of Lebanon brace for further attacks and instability.
