Aqil, the head of an elite unit of the Hezbollah militia, was killed in an Israeli attack on Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Friday, the group itself confirms. The confirmation comes after Israel reported that Aqil and around ten of the militia group’s commanders were killed in the attack. Lebanese security sources also stated that 61-year-old Aqil had been killed. An undated photo of Ibrahim Aqil (left), the top Hezbollah figure killed in an attack in Beirut on Friday. Photo: Hezbollah via / AP / NTB He is said to have been the leader of the Radwan force, an elite unit of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Aqil was allegedly second-in-command to Fuad Shukr, who was killed in a similar attack in July. In a statement, Hezbollah describes Aqil as “a great jihadist leader” and that he has “joined the procession of his brothers, the great martyr leaders”. – As of 7 October, Aqil was on the US’s wanted list, and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had promised a reward of up to 7 million dollars – the equivalent of over 70 million Norwegian kroner – for information leading to his capture. The Israeli military (IDF) describes Ibrahim Aqil as one of the masterminds behind a Hezbollah plan to attack northern Israel, reports the news agency DPA. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari claims that Hezbollah was planning an attack as devastating as the one Hamas was behind last year. According to the spokesperson, Hezbollah planned to take control of communities in the Galilee region in the north of the country and kill and kidnap civilian Israelis, “like what Hamas did on October 7.” It is not known what is the basis for the IDF’s claims. One of those killed in Friday’s Israeli attack in Beirut is lifted from the ruins of a building that was hit. Photo: Bilal Hussein / AP / NTB Israel: Hezbollah is the problem On Friday evening Norwegian time, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was discussed in the UN Security Council. There, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that the explosions in Lebanon constituted a violation of international law. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called on the Security Council to condemn the attacks. He calls the attacks a “method of warfare unparalleled in its brutality and terror”. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon also addressed the Security Council. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon during a meeting of the Security Council recently. Photo: Pamela Smith / AP / NTB He emphasized that Lebanon is not the problem, but Hezbollah. Danon does not rule out more attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon – and is adamant that Israel has the right to defend itself. Danon accuses the neighboring country’s foreign minister of not even mentioning the name Hezbollah in his post, and he called on Lebanon to take action to clamp down on the group. 14 killed, over 60 injured At the same time, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health states that the total number of people killed in the attack on Beirut on Friday has been confirmed. So far, 14 have been confirmed killed, and over 60 are said to be injured. Save the Children’s country manager in Lebanon, Jennifer Moorehead, writes on the messaging service X that five children are said to have been killed in the attack. A thick cloud of smoke was visible over Lebanon’s capital on Friday, and residents in the southern suburbs said they heard a loud bang. Several ambulances moved out to the Beirut district which was exposed to an Israeli attack on Friday. Photo: Hassan Ammar / AP / NTB Rockets against Israel A video clip showing the smoke rising after the attack was shared on social media. The Lebanese television station Al-Mayadeen reported that a drone fired several rockets at the densely populated district of Dahieh. – We will continue to pursue our enemies to defend our citizens, even in Dahieh in Beirut, says Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He describes the attack, which he says targeted Aqil, as part of “a new phase of the war”. The Israeli attack came after Hezbollah fired at least 140 rockets at targets in northern Israel earlier on Friday. Interested in abroad? Listen to the foreign affairs editor’s podcast: Published 21.09.2024, at 05.47 Updated 21.09.2024, at 05.56
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Israel claims to have averted a major Hezbollah attack – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
