Categories: Headline / IDF & Security / Israel At War: Iron Swords / Lebanon / Hezbollah

Report: IDF Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Leader in Beirut Airstrike

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September 20, 2024, 1 PM ET

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Arab media reported late Friday afternoon that Israel carried out a surgical strike on a residential building in Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold. The IDF swiftly claimed responsibility for the airstrike. Arab media reported four missiles hit the building, decimating it.

Security sources who spoke with Israeli media said the target of the airstrike was Ibrahim Aqil, a member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council, the terror group's top military body. A source close to Hezbollah who spoke with AFP likewise said Aqil was eliminated in the strike. There is no official confirmation as yet that Aqil was eliminated.

Ibrahim Aqil, a member of the Hezbollah Jihad Council - the group's top military body - was wanted by the United States; a $7 million reward was offered for information leading to his capture.

The targeted terrorist also heads Hezbollah's Radwan special operations division and is considered the second in command of the organization. He was allegedly meeting with several Palestinian Authority officials at the time of the strike.

Aqil is wanted by the United States for his role in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, and for directing the abduction of American and German hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s.

A Saudi report said missiles were launched from an F-35 and four explosions were heard one after the other, according to a report by Abu Ali Express.

זירת התקיפה בביירות

נשמע מפחיד שם ? pic.twitter.com/HgHWy5MmoL
— בז news (@1717Bazz) September 20, 2024

דובר צה"ל:

ראשוני: צה״ל תקף באופן ממוקד בביירות.
בשלב זה אין שינוי בהנחיות פיקוד העורף. במידה ויהיו שינויים נעדכן.
פרטים נוספים בהמשך. pic.twitter.com/Yis0zQTUDv
— בז news (@1717Bazz) September 20, 2024

מי חוסל הפעם בדאחייה?
התקיפה בוצעה באזור מסגד אל-קאים ברובע הדאחייה. pic.twitter.com/MKwHd2ES60
— בז news (@1717Bazz) September 20, 2024

דיווח על תקיפת חיל האוויר בפרבר הדרומי של ביירות pic.twitter.com/KRyeicDq1J
— בז news (@1717Bazz) September 20, 2024

מהתקיפה בביירות pic.twitter.com/He0nvS9nZB
— בז news (@1717Bazz) September 20, 2024

As of 4:30 pm Friday, Beirut officials said three were killed and at least 17 others wounded in the attack. The numbers are likely to change as rubble is cleared from the site.