Hezbollah announced on Saturday that a second senior commander was among the 16 fighters killed in an Israeli airstrike on its stronghold in Beirut the previous day, emphasizing the significant impact on its military leadership.
The Israeli strike on Friday targeted the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, resulting in the death of Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, along with several other commanders. This attack came shortly after sabotage incidents targeting Hezbollah’s communication devices, which had already resulted in 37 fatalities in its strongholds.
Hezbollah identified the second commander as Ahmed Mahmud Wahbi, who had led the group’s operations against Israel since the onset of the Gaza war in October. Aqil, wanted by the United States for his involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, was remembered by Hezbollah as “one of its great leaders.”
Reports from AFP journalists indicated that the airstrike created a massive crater and severely damaged the lower floors of a high-rise building. This was the second strike on Hezbollah’s military leadership since the start of the Gaza conflict, following a previous attack in July that killed Fuad Shukr, another high-ranking operations chief.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, calling for “maximum restraint” from all parties involved.
The Israeli military confirmed that the strike targeted Aqil, with sources close to Hezbollah reporting a total of 16 Radwan Force members killed. Aqil was reportedly meeting with commanders at the time of the attack.
The U.S. had previously placed a $7 million bounty on Aqil, describing him as a key member of the organization responsible for the 1983 embassy bombing that killed 63 people.
Tensions have intensified along the Israel-Lebanon border, particularly following Hamas’s October 7 attack, which sparked the ongoing conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel’s “enemies” would find no refuge, including in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
While Israel claimed it was not seeking to escalate the conflict, Hamas labeled the strike a “brutal and terrorist aggression.” Iran’s foreign ministry accused Israel of attempting to widen the scope of the war.
The recent violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with hundreds killed in Lebanon, primarily fighters, and numerous fatalities in Israel, prompting thousands to flee their homes.
Hezbollah’s recent struggles were compounded by the sabotage of communication devices that exploded in public places, causing widespread panic and casualties. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed retaliation for these attacks.
Before the Beirut airstrike, Israel reported that Hezbollah had launched multiple rockets from Lebanon in response to airstrikes that destroyed many of the group’s launchers. Gallant warned that Hezbollah would face increasing consequences as Israel aims to ensure the safety of its citizens near the border.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his planned departure to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly in light of the developments. Meanwhile, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned the attacks on Hezbollah’s communications devices as violations of international law that could amount to war crimes.
Efforts by international mediators, including the United States, are ongoing to prevent the Gaza conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. The October 7 Hamas attacks resulted in significant casualties on the Israeli side, while Israel’s military response has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Gaza.
