An Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s suburbs on Friday killed a top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Aqil, along with three others. The attack wounded 17 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The Israeli military confirmed that Aqil, the operations commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan special forces unit, was a target of the strike.
“The IDF will continue to act to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, strike at it, and operate on all fronts to protect the citizens of Israel,” a statement reads.
The strike, which reportedly targeted a residential apartment block, also killed five children, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack, saying Israel “gives no weight to any humanitarian, legal or moral considerations.”
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. In recent days, 37 people were killed in Lebanon when pagers and walkie-talkie exploded in two separate attacks widely believed to have been carried out by Israel.
Aqil, who was sanctioned by the US State Department for his alleged role in the 1983 bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut, had been a key figure in Hezbollah’s military leadership. His death marks the second time in less than two months that Israel has targeted a top Hezbollah commander.
The recent exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel has raised fears of an all-out war in the region.
Israel is also engaged in an ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 41,000 people since October 7.
