Israel launched a rare and deadly airstrike in a densely populated area of southern Beirut on Friday, killing Ibrahim Akil, a senior Hezbollah commander, and 13 others. This strike targeted Beirut’s southern Dahiya district, marking the deadliest attack on Lebanon’s capital in decades. Akil, a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and a member of its Jihad Council, was among those killed. The United States had sanctioned Akil for his involvement in the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut and other attacks, offering a $7 million reward for his capture.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing the operation as part of “a new phase of war” aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah threats. Hezbollah confirmed Akil’s death, praising him as a significant military leader.
This airstrike is part of the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, further inflamed by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel, which followed earlier explosions in Lebanon attributed to Israeli operations. The latest Israeli strike occurred as fears of a full-scale conflict between the two rivals increase, with Israel bolstering its forces on the northern border in response.