IDF Airstrike Eliminates Wanted Terrorist and Other Hezbollah Leaders

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced wanted terrorist and Hezbollah Radwan unit commander Ibrahim Aqil and other Radwan commanders were eliminated in a precision strike earlier today in Beirut, Lebanon. IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari noted that Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out the strike, stating on X:

With the precise intelligence direction of the Intelligence Division, Air Force fighter jets targeted the Beirut area and killed Ibrahim Aqil, the head of the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s operations team, the acting commander of the Radwan unit and the commander of the “Plan for the Conquest of the Galilee”. In the attack, together with Aqil, the top operatives and the chain of command of the Radwan unit were eliminated.

Hagari said Aqil’s terrorist activity started in the 1980s, and noted he was involved in the 1983 U.S. embassy bombing in Beirut that killed 63 people:

Aqil began his career in Hezbollah in the 1980s in the Islamic Jihad mechanism, which is responsible for Hezbollah attacks outside of Lebanon, and took part in many attacks carried out in various countries against innocent international bodies and citizens…. In addition, he served as the commander of the Radwan unit, Hezbollah’s elite force, whose goal was to occupy the settlements of the Israeli Galilee and kill innocent soldiers and civilians…. Aqil promoted the attack on the United States embassy in Beirut in 1983. In addition, he was considered wanted by the United States, which offered a financial sum of millions of dollars to those who would bring information that could lead to his failure.

IDF International spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani also released a statement on the strike. He noted that 10 Radwan commanders were with Aqil, stating on X:

We eliminated Ibrahim Aqil earlier today in a precise strike in Beirut, Lebanon. At the time of the strike, Ibrahim Aqil, and the approx. 10 Radwan commanders who were eliminated with him, gathered underground—under a residential building in the heart of the Dahiyah neighborhood, hiding among Lebanese civilians—using them as human shields. They were in the middle of planning more terror attacks against Israeli civilians. Terror attacks like the 200 rockets fired today at Israeli civilians and many more. These commanders also planned Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” attack plan, in which Hezbollah intended to infiltrate Israeli communities and murder innocent civilians. Significant terrorists who aim to murder thousands of civilians will be eliminated.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant responded after the successful strike, vowing that Israel will continue its mission against Hezbollah:

Our enemies have no place of refuge – not even the Dahieh in Beirut. We will continue operating against Hezbollah until we achieve our mission: ensuring the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes.