The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated further last Friday when an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut left at least 31 people dead, including Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander. Aqil, a key figure in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, had been targeted by Israeli forces due to his involvement in planning potential raids into northern Israel.
This latest strike dealt a major blow to Hezbollah, which has been reeling from a series of Israeli attacks in recent weeks. The airstrike, confirmed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari, is part of Israel’s ongoing effort to neutralize Hezbollah’s ability to launch offensives, particularly along the border with northern Israel.
Who Was Ibrahim Aqil?
Ibrahim Aqil was a prominent member of Hezbollah, an elite fighter in the Radwan Force tasked with specialized military operations. He had been linked to major attacks against the US, including the infamous 1983 US Embassy bombing in Beirut, which claimed 63 lives, and the Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 US service members. Aqil’s death is seen as a significant victory for Israel, considering his long-standing notoriety and the $7 million bounty placed on him by the United States.
Hezbollah acknowledged the loss of Aqil and other commanders, blaming Israel for what it called a “treacherous assassination operation.” Aqil and his team were reportedly hiding underground, beneath a residential building in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut. According to Israel, Hezbollah was using civilians as human shields at the time of the attack.
The Casualties: A Look Beyond Hezbollah
Beyond the high-profile deaths of Hezbollah commanders, the Israeli strike devastated a multistory residential building, killing 31 people, including three children and seven women. Among the dead were also three Syrian nationals, according to Lebanese health minister Firass Abiad. Over 68 people were wounded in the attack, many of them civilians. Rescue operations are ongoing, with body parts still being retrieved from the rubble as Lebanese authorities search for missing persons.
This is now the deadliest attack between Israel and Hezbollah since October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, marking the beginning of escalating hostilities in the region.
A Week of Intensifying Attacks
The Friday airstrike is the most lethal in a week of intensifying Israeli military operations in Lebanon. On Tuesday, Israel launched surprise attacks targeting Hezbollah members using low-tech communication devices, like pagers, after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah encouraged members to avoid digital technologies to evade detection. These devices, which exploded simultaneously, killed 12 Hezbollah operatives, and another 27 were killed in subsequent attacks on Wednesday.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant lauded these operations, calling them a sign of a “new era of war” between Israel and Hezbollah. Gallant hinted that Israel’s intelligence agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, had been involved in planning and executing the attacks, which he said were “excellent achievements” in terms of military objectives.
Political Fallout and Global Reactions
The international response to the escalation has been swift. At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned that Israel’s targeting of communication devices might violate international human rights law, particularly in densely populated areas like southern Beirut. The Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for the council to condemn Israel’s actions, while Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon sharply criticized Lebanon for failing to mention Hezbollah’s role in escalating the conflict.
Despite the growing international criticism, Israel continues to pursue its military objectives. Its security cabinet recently added a new goal to the ongoing war with Hamas and Hezbollah: the safe return of residents from communities along Israel’s northern border, where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by cross-border exchanges.
What Happens Next?
The airstrike on southern Beirut is part of Israel’s broader strategy to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, targeting both its senior leadership and operational capabilities. Hezbollah’s repeated calls for retaliation and the involvement of Iran-backed militant groups like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba suggest that the conflict may intensify further, particularly as these groups have vowed revenge for the recent attacks.
As the Israeli-Lebanese conflict continues to evolve, the toll on civilians is becoming increasingly apparent. Friday’s strike has left many Lebanese civilians in fear, with rescue teams still working to clear debris from the latest attack.
In southern Beirut, the atmosphere remains tense, with many residents fleeing the area. CNN reporters observed cars loaded with suitcases, underscoring the panic that has spread through communities living under the threat of further attacks.
Key Takeaways:
- Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander with a $7 million bounty, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
- The attack is part of an intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with civilian casualties mounting.
- Israel’s security strategy now includes the safe return of displaced residents in northern Israel.
- Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias have promised to retaliate, indicating that the violence may continue to escalate.
- International response has been critical, with the UN warning about possible violations of human rights law.
As tensions rise between Israel and Hezbollah, the future remains uncertain for both nations, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.
