''Israel claims it killed senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike''

The Israeli military has announced that it successfully killed senior Hezbollah military commander Ibrahim Aqil in a targeted airstrike on Friday in southern Beirut. Aqil, a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, had long been on Israel’s radar due to his involvement in high-profile attacks dating back to the 1980s, including the infamous 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, which left hundreds of Americans dead.

Aqil was a central figure within Hezbollah’s military apparatus, and his involvement in terrorism spanned several decades. The United States had also been actively seeking Aqil, offering a $7 million reward for information leading to his capture through its "Rewards for Justice" program. The U.S. government accused him of orchestrating some of Hezbollah’s most brutal and high-profile terrorist activities, particularly during the group’s formative years.

In addition to his involvement in the 1983 U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks bombings, Aqil had ties to the Islamic Jihad organization, which claimed responsibility for both attacks. He also served on Hezbollah’s Jihad Council, the organization’s highest military body, overseeing operations and planning across the region.

On Friday, Israeli airstrikes targeted a residential area in southern Beirut, known to be a Hezbollah stronghold, where Aqil was reportedly hiding. This marked the third Israeli airstrike in Beirut in less than a year as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated in recent months.

Two large residential buildings were completely destroyed in the strike, and a frantic search and rescue operation was launched to retrieve victims trapped under the rubble. According to Lebanon’s civil defense authority, specialized teams were dispatched to the scene, and civilians were instructed to evacuate the area.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least nine people were killed and nearly 60 others were injured in the airstrike. Among the injured, eight were in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could rise further. Rescue teams scrambled to extract survivors from beneath the wreckage of the collapsed buildings, while local authorities worked to clear the debris. 

A CNN team on the ground described the devastation, noting that the once-bustling neighborhood had been reduced to rubble. Ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene, and a heavy police presence cordoned off the area. The situation on the ground was chaotic, with civilians fleeing in fear of further attacks.

Several severely wounded victims were transported to nearby hospitals, while others, including children and women, were pulled from the ruins. The full extent of the destruction was still being assessed, but it was clear that the strike had left a lasting scar on this densely populated area of Beirut.

Hezbollah has yet to officially confirm the death of Ibrahim Aqil, but Lebanese security sources and CNN’s Israeli affiliate have reported that Aqil was indeed the target of the Israeli airstrike. Hezbollah, which has long been a dominant political and military force in Lebanon, has vowed retaliation for the Israeli assault.

The strike on Aqil is seen as a major blow to Hezbollah, which has lost several top commanders in Israeli airstrikes over the past year. In January, Israeli forces killed Saleh Al-Arouri, a senior leader of Hamas’s military wing, who had been living in Beirut. In July, Hezbollah’s top military official, Fu’ad Shukr, was also assassinated in an Israeli strike.

Lebanese officials condemned the Israeli strike, calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an act of aggression. Local media outlets, including Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), reported extensively on the casualties and the destruction caused by the airstrike. Civilians in southern Beirut, many of whom are staunch supporters of Hezbollah, expressed their anger and fear, with some calling for swift retaliation against Israel.

The White House, when asked about the strike, stated that it had not received any advance notification from Israel regarding the operation. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the lack of prior notice was not unusual in such cases, as Israel typically operates independently in its military operations. Kirby also declined to comment on the specifics of the strike, deferring to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog reiterated his country’s right to defend itself against threats from Hezbollah and other militant groups operating in Lebanon. Herzog emphasized that while Israel does not seek war, it reserves the right to act decisively to protect its citizens and its borders. His comments were in response to growing concerns about an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which could plunge the region into a broader conflict.

The strike that killed Aqil is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which has seen cross-border attacks increase significantly over the past year. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has long posed a significant threat to Israel, particularly along its northern border with Lebanon.

Since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah has ramped up its operations in Lebanon, launching rocket attacks and other military actions against Israeli targets. In response, Israel has conducted a series of retaliatory strikes, including the operation that killed Aqil.

Friday’s strike on southern Beirut was the third Israeli airstrike on Lebanese soil in recent months. In addition to the assassination of top Hezbollah and Hamas figures, Israeli forces have targeted Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, aiming to weaken the group’s operational capabilities.

The growing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have raised fears of a wider regional conflict, with the potential to draw in other players, including Iran and Syria. Both countries have historically supported Hezbollah with funding, weapons, and training, and any escalation in violence between Israel and Hezbollah could have ripple effects across the Middle East.

The assassination of Ibrahim Aqil represents a significant blow to Hezbollah, as the militant group loses yet another high-ranking commander. Israel’s targeted airstrikes on Hezbollah leaders are part of its broader strategy to weaken the group and mitigate the threat it poses to Israeli security.

However, the airstrike has also raised the specter of further violence, as Hezbollah is likely to retaliate for the death of one of its most senior military figures. With tensions already high, the potential for a broader conflict looms large.

For now, the people of Beirut are left to pick up the pieces after yet another devastating airstrike, and the region waits to see what the next move will be in this ongoing and dangerous conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.