Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander and head of the elite Radwan forces, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday, in accordance with Israel.
Aqil was planning an assault on Israeli territory, with the objective of penetrating and attacking communities within the Galilee, Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned.
The IDF added that his goals had been much like these of Hamas in the course of the October 7 assaults.
The Israeli navy confirmed the incident, stating that Aqil and his forces had been positioned underground beneath a residential constructing within the Dahiyeh space, utilizing civilians as human shields.
Who was Aqil?
In 2015, the US division of the treasury designated Aqil as a specifically designated nationwide as a result of his actions on behalf of Hezbollah. In 2019, he was additional designated a “specifically designated international terrorist” by the US state division.
Within the Eighties, Aqil was concerned in main assaults, together with the 1983 bombings of the US embassy and the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, which resulted in quite a few casualties. He additionally led hostage-taking operations involving American and German nationals in Lebanon. The US treasury additionally famous his involvement within the 1986 bombings in Paris.
In April 2023, the US supplied a $7 million reward for info resulting in Aqil, marking the fortieth anniversary of the embassy bombing.
‘Key chief’ in Jihad Council
America positioned Aqil, alias Hajj Abdul Qader, on its sanctions checklist almost a decade in the past, describing him as a “key chief” in Hezbollah’s highest navy physique, the Jihad Council. In keeping with the US treasury, Aqil performed a serious position in Hezbollah’s navy marketing campaign in Syria.
Aqil was second-in-command of Hezbollah’s navy operations, after Fuad Shukr, who was killed on July 30 in an Israeli strike.
Aqil additionally headed the Radwan Power, established after the 2006 Second Lebanon Battle. It specialises in floor warfare and high-risk missions, together with cross-border infiltration into Israeli territory. Radwan fighters have additionally gained expertise in conflicts outdoors Lebanon, notably in Syria.
Lebanese officers mentioned that Israel has repeatedly demanded, by worldwide mediators, that Radwan Power fighters be faraway from the border space.
Since October, Hezbollah has misplaced a number of commanders, together with Mohammed Naameh Nasser and Taleb Abdallah, each killed in Israeli airstrikes. Radwan Power’s prime commander, Wissam Tawil, was additionally killed in January.
Within the Israeli navy strike in Beirut, seven individuals had been killed together with Ibrahim Aqil. The strike focused Beirut’s southern suburbs, injuring 59 individuals and inflicting vital injury to Hezbollah. The assault got here simply in the future after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had threatened retaliation in opposition to Israel.
Hezbollah has not formally confirmed Aqil’s demise however claimed that the strike focused an Israeli intelligence base and was liable for unexplained “assassinations.”
Aqil was planning an assault on Israeli territory, with the objective of penetrating and attacking communities within the Galilee, Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned.
The IDF added that his goals had been much like these of Hamas in the course of the October 7 assaults.
The Israeli navy confirmed the incident, stating that Aqil and his forces had been positioned underground beneath a residential constructing within the Dahiyeh space, utilizing civilians as human shields.
Who was Aqil?
In 2015, the US division of the treasury designated Aqil as a specifically designated nationwide as a result of his actions on behalf of Hezbollah. In 2019, he was additional designated a “specifically designated international terrorist” by the US state division.
Within the Eighties, Aqil was concerned in main assaults, together with the 1983 bombings of the US embassy and the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, which resulted in quite a few casualties. He additionally led hostage-taking operations involving American and German nationals in Lebanon. The US treasury additionally famous his involvement within the 1986 bombings in Paris.
In April 2023, the US supplied a $7 million reward for info resulting in Aqil, marking the fortieth anniversary of the embassy bombing.
‘Key chief’ in Jihad Council
America positioned Aqil, alias Hajj Abdul Qader, on its sanctions checklist almost a decade in the past, describing him as a “key chief” in Hezbollah’s highest navy physique, the Jihad Council. In keeping with the US treasury, Aqil performed a serious position in Hezbollah’s navy marketing campaign in Syria.
Aqil was second-in-command of Hezbollah’s navy operations, after Fuad Shukr, who was killed on July 30 in an Israeli strike.
Aqil additionally headed the Radwan Power, established after the 2006 Second Lebanon Battle. It specialises in floor warfare and high-risk missions, together with cross-border infiltration into Israeli territory. Radwan fighters have additionally gained expertise in conflicts outdoors Lebanon, notably in Syria.
Lebanese officers mentioned that Israel has repeatedly demanded, by worldwide mediators, that Radwan Power fighters be faraway from the border space.
Since October, Hezbollah has misplaced a number of commanders, together with Mohammed Naameh Nasser and Taleb Abdallah, each killed in Israeli airstrikes. Radwan Power’s prime commander, Wissam Tawil, was additionally killed in January.
Within the Israeli navy strike in Beirut, seven individuals had been killed together with Ibrahim Aqil. The strike focused Beirut’s southern suburbs, injuring 59 individuals and inflicting vital injury to Hezbollah. The assault got here simply in the future after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah had threatened retaliation in opposition to Israel.
Hezbollah has not formally confirmed Aqil’s demise however claimed that the strike focused an Israeli intelligence base and was liable for unexplained “assassinations.”
