Israel has escalated its military campaign against Hezbollah with an airstrike in southern Beirut, killing a top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Aqil, along with several other senior figures of the group. The Israeli military announced that the strike, which targeted a meeting of high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, was part of a broader effort to secure the northern border area.
Aqil, identified as the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan special forces unit, was among around ten senior officials killed. This comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been exchanging fire since the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced from homes along the Israel-Lebanon border as the violence intensifies.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that this marks a new phase in the conflict, with the aim of ensuring the safety of Israeli citizens. In response, Hezbollah launched missile attacks on Israeli territory, further heightening tensions in the region.
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed 12 fatalities and 66 injuries from the strike, with rescue teams still searching for survivors. The strike is seen as a significant blow to Hezbollah following earlier attacks that killed dozens of its members.
The Iranian embassy in Lebanon condemned the attack, labeling it as reckless aggression. Meanwhile, the White House emphasized that war is not inevitable and is working to prevent further escalation. However, the situation remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange attacks.
