|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed a precision airstrike in Beirut on Friday that resulted in the elimination of Ibrahim Aqil, the head of operations and commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The strike, guided by intelligence from the IDF’s Intelligence Directorate, took place in the Dahieh neighborhood of southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. Aqil, who ranked third in Hezbollah’s hierarchy, was killed during a high-level meeting with other commanders of the Radwan Force, marking a severe blow to the terrorist organization.
Ibrahim Aqil was one of Hezbollah’s most senior military figures, with a long history of orchestrating attacks against Israel. According to the IDF, Aqil was responsible for planning the 1997 Hezbollah ambush that resulted in the death of 12 Israeli naval commandos near Sidon, an incident referred to in Israel as the Shayetet tragedy. Aqil had also been wanted by the United States for his involvement in the 1983 bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut, which claimed 63 lives. The IDF’s Friday strike not only eliminated Aqil but also 15 other Hezbollah operatives, including 11 senior commanders in the Radwan Force chain of command, making it one of the most devastating blows to Hezbollah’s military leadership in recent memory.
The operation occurred Friday morning as senior Hezbollah commanders gathered in a cellar in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut, reportedly to discuss plans for a potential assault on Israel’s Galilee region. According to Lebanese sources, 37 people were killed in the strike, including several high-ranking Hezbollah figures. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) executed the attack using four precision-guided rockets, which completely destroyed the building where the meeting was being held.
One of the other key Hezbollah figures killed in the strike was Abu Hassan Samir, who served as the head of the Radwan Force training unit. Samir, who had commanded the Radwan Force for nearly a decade until early 2024, was instrumental in shaping Hezbollah’s military strategy and tactics. He was one of the primary architects behind Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” attack plan, a key component of the organization’s long-term strategy against Israel. Over the years, Samir played a central role in enhancing Hezbollah’s military capabilities in southern Lebanon, focusing on ground combat tactics and cross-border infiltrations. He was also deeply involved in orchestrating numerous attacks on Israeli territory, including the most recent spate of incursions during the ongoing conflict.
Other key Hezbollah commanders eliminated in the strike included Abbas Sami Maslamani, Commander of the Qana area; Abdullah Abbas Hajazi, Commander of the Ramim ridge area; Muhammed Ahmad Reda, Commander of the Al-Khiam area; and Hassan Hussein Madi, Commander of the Mount Dov area. These commanders were responsible for leading the Radwan Force’s infiltration and attack strategy aimed at Israeli territory. According to Israeli intelligence, these leaders had been planning cross-border incursions and guerrilla warfare tactics for years, to be executed upon receiving orders.
The Radwan Force, Hezbollah’s elite special operations unit, plays a pivotal role in the organization’s military strategy against Israel. Its commanders are tasked with spearheading the group’s most significant operations, including incursions into Israeli territory and assaults on civilian and military targets. The commanders killed in the strike were heavily involved in Hezbollah’s long-standing plan to infiltrate Israel’s northern communities, specifically targeting the Galilee region in what the group called the “Conquer the Galilee” operation.
In addition to the field commanders, senior officials within the Radwan Force’s central command were also eliminated. Hassan Yussef Abad Alssatar, responsible for the coordination of all Radwan Force operations, was among those killed. Alssatar oversaw the group’s fire operations and played a crucial role in advancing the unit’s operational readiness. Another senior figure eliminated in the strike was Hussein Ahmad Dahraj, the Chief of Staff of the Radwan Force. Dahraj was integral to Hezbollah’s logistical network, facilitating the transfer of weapons and resources to strengthen the organization’s capabilities in southern Lebanon.
The combined deaths of these commanders represent a severe disruption to Hezbollah’s ability to carry out its military operations, particularly those involving cross-border attacks on Israel. The planning, advancing, and execution of hundreds of terrorist operations against Israel were attributed to this cadre of leaders. Their removal is expected to impede Hezbollah’s strategic goals in the near term, particularly their infiltration plan targeting Israeli civilian communities in the Galilee.
Hezbollah’s Radwan Force has been a persistent threat to Israel, focusing on guerrilla warfare, cross-border raids, and terror attacks designed to destabilize northern Israel. The elimination of these commanders will likely disrupt the force’s capabilities, particularly in planning and executing complex infiltration operations. Israeli military experts believe that the loss of Ibrahim Aqil and his senior officers will force Hezbollah to reassess its strategies and could delay any immediate plans for a large-scale attack on Israel.
While Hezbollah has not officially commented on the extent of the damage to its command structure, the group’s leadership is expected to face internal challenges in re-establishing operational control. The elimination of such key figures within Hezbollah’s military hierarchy leaves a considerable vacuum, and it remains to be seen how quickly the organization can regroup and appoint new leaders to replace those lost in the strike.
The timing and location of the strike suggest that Israeli intelligence had highly accurate and timely information regarding Hezbollah’s internal operations. The fact that Aqil and other high-ranking commanders were meeting to discuss an assault on Israel’s Galilee indicates the strategic importance of the meeting and the significance of the IDF’s successful preemptive strike. Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” plan has long been a source of concern for Israeli military planners, as it aims to capture Israeli territory in the north during a future conflict.
The death of Ibrahim Aqil comes just weeks after the assassination of another senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukry, further weakening Hezbollah’s upper echelons. Aqil’s role as the head of operations made him the de facto second-in-command in the organization’s military hierarchy, after Hassan Nasrallah. His elimination, along with the previous loss of Shukry, leaves a significant leadership void within Hezbollah’s military structure. The question now is how the organization will respond to the decapitation of its leadership and what impact this will have on the broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The IDF’s airstrike also sends a clear message about Israel’s ability to carry out precision operations deep inside enemy territory. The fact that such a significant gathering of Hezbollah commanders could be targeted and eliminated speaks to Israel’s superior intelligence capabilities and its determination to neutralize threats before they materialize. The strike also underscores Israel’s commitment to preventing Hezbollah from further entrenching itself in southern Lebanon and carrying out cross-border attacks.
In the aftermath of the strike, Hezbollah is expected to reassess its military posture and leadership structure. However, the organization has historically shown resilience in the face of significant losses, often regrouping and re-strategizing in response to Israeli attacks.
