The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that a missile attack targeted the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Friday.
Security officials claim the airstrike targeted Ibrahim Akil, a member of the terrorist group Hezbollah's Jihad Council.
“Today, Israel [Aqil] The Israeli government posted on social media: “Precision air strikes carried out in Beirut. Justice has been served.”
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Rescuers carry a body at the site of a missile attack in the southern outskirts of Beirut, Friday, September 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussain)
Akil is wanted by the United States for his alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing of a US Marine barracks in Beirut and is also believed to be involved in the taking of American hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s.
Israeli authorities announced hours later that “Israeli Air Force aircraft carried out a targeted, intelligence-based strike in the Beirut area, killing Ibrahim Akil, head of Hezbollah's operational forces, commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Forces, and director of planning for Hezbollah's 'Conquest of Galilee' offensive.”
Hezbollah officials confirmed that the missile hit a building in the Dahiya neighborhood where Akil was believed to be.
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An ambulance arrives at the scene of an Israeli missile attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Friday, September 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussain)
Lebanese health officials said at least nine people were killed and around 60 injured in the explosion, which also destroyed two apartment buildings.
“During the attack, a senior operative in Hezbollah's operational staff and the commander of its Radwan unit were killed along with Akil,” the statement continued. “Ibrahim Akil, who was killed today, and the commander of the Radwan unit had been planning Hezbollah's 'Conquest of Galilee' attack, which conspired to infiltrate Israeli communities and kill innocent civilians.”
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People gather at the site of an Israeli missile attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Friday, September 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussain)
This is only the latest in Israel's increasingly aggressive military operations against Hezbollah. The IDF yesterday shelled several infrastructure facilities in southern Lebanon, including in the areas of Chihine, Taybeh, Blida, Ma'is el-Jabal, Aitaloun and Kfar Khera.
Earlier this week, Israeli security forces remotely destroyed hundreds of electronic devices used by Hezbollah members to communicate, killing 12 people and wounding more than 2,800.
