Israeli Raid on Beirut Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander and Several Others

A senior Hezbollah commander and several other commanders were killed in an Israeli raid on the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander and several other commanders in a raid on the group’s stronghold on the outskirts of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on September 20, according to reports.

Hezbollah Commander Ibrahim Aqil Killed in Israeli Raid

Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil was killed in the Israeli raid, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Aqil was the commander of the Hezbollah operations group, acting commander of the Radwan unit, and commander of the Galilee Conquest Plan.

The IDF announced that Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted the Beirut area and killed Aqil, along with several senior Radwan officers. The Israeli military accused Aqil and other Hezbollah commanders of planning raids in the Galilee, in northern Israel.

US Accused Aqil of Involvement in 1983 US Embassy Bombing

The US accused Aqil of involvement in the April 1983 bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. In 2019, the US offered a $7 million reward for information leading to Aqil’s arrest.

Hezbollah Confirms Aqil’s Death

Hours later, Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death, calling him “one of the top leaders” but did not provide details on the cause of death.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry Reports Casualties

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 14 people were killed in the airstrike on Sunday evening and the death toll was expected to rise as rescue teams worked through the night. At least 66 people were injured, including nine in critical condition.

Tensions Escalate Between Israel and Hezbollah

The attack came shortly after Hezbollah announced it had launched a series of missiles targeting at least six Israeli military headquarters and bases, including “a key air defense base”. The IDF said Hezbollah fired about 140 rockets within an hour, starting in the early afternoon.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated in recent days after thousands of Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon on September 17-18, killing at least 37 people and injuring about 3,000.

Hezbollah Leader Condemns Israeli Attack

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned the Israeli attack as “above all rules, laws and ethics” and “may be considered a war crime or a declaration of war” while warning Israel “cross all red lines”.