Hezbollah confirmed the death of Ibrahim Aqill, also known as Haji Abdel Qader, during an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut. Aqill, a senior commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, was among several Hezbollah leaders targeted in the raid.
The Israeli airstrike, carried by an F-35 fighter jet, aimed to eradicate Hezbollah leadership, including aqill. The Israeli army confirmed that about 10 senior Hezbollah commanders were killed in the raid, including Aqeel. The U.S.-based news outlet Axios reported that the entire Supreme Command of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, comprising 20 members, was killed.
Following the attack, Hezbollah retaliated by targeting an Israeli intelligence headquarters in northern Israel, claiming responsibility for missile strikes on the Michair base, which it alleges is responsible for carrying out assassinations.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the death toll from the Israeli strike reached at least 14, with 59 others injured, including eight critical situations. This marks the third major Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah’s stronghold, since the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah following the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
Earlier, another pivotal Hezbollah leader, Fouad Shukr, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 30. The attacks continue to be part of the broader conflict, with both sides engaging in retaliatory strikes across the region.