Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil, age 62, a senior figure in the group’s elite Radwan Force, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 20, 2024. Aqil was a key player in Hezbollah’s military operations, responsible for organizing attacks against Israeli forces and leading the group’s tunnel construction in Lebanon. His involvement in major terrorist acts dates back to the 1983 Beirut US Embassy bombing, which killed 63 people. Aqil had a $7 million bounty on his head due to his extensive history of orchestrating attacks.
The IDF says that Aqil was the leader of Hezbollah’s operations unit for 2o years. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the late terrorist, Ibrahim Aqil, “had the blood of many innocent people on his hands-Americans, Israelis, French, Lebanese, and more.” Although Aqil’s death is a blow to Hezbollah, they are notorious for quickly and efficiently replacing top commanders.
What is the Radwan Force?
Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force is a highly trained unit responsible for special operations, particularly targeting Israel. Named after Ali Hussein Radwan, a Hezbollah commander killed in battle, this force is considered the most capable and strategically important within Hezbollah’s military structure. Known for its sophisticated tactics, the Radwan Force has been involved in cross-border raids, guerrilla warfare, and tunnel operations, often drawing on combat experience from conflicts in Syria. The unit operates with high secrecy and plays a key role in the group’s strategic military planning.
The Radwan Force is a critical asset for Hezbollah, enabling the group to carry out highly coordinated and clandestine attacks. It specializes in infiltrations, sabotage missions, and engaging in direct combat with Israeli forces. Their activities include preparing for possible invasions into Israeli territory, and they are reportedly involved in the construction and use of tunnels along the Lebanon-Israel border. Radwan operatives are known for their elite training, receiving support and guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The airstrike targeted a meeting in a heavily fortified building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Aqil and other senior Hezbollah operatives were gathered underground. Specifically, the Haret Hreik neighborhood was targeted. In addition to Aqil, over a dozen Hezbollah members, including senior commander Ahmed Wahabi, were killed in the strike. Sixty-six others were injured, with 9 reported to be in critical condition. The operation marks one of the most significant Israeli military actions against Hezbollah leadership in years.
Initial reports indicate that the airstrike was carried out by F-35 fighter jets in two sorties. It leveled the apartment building where the terrorists were meeting and did extensive damage to the surrounding neighborhood.
Aqil’s death is likely to escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, especially considering his central role in planning attacks similar to Hamas‘ October 7 actions against Israel. Hezbollah has already retaliated with a barrage of rocket strikes following the news of his assassination, intensifying the already volatile situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil, age 62, a senior figure in the group’s elite Radwan Force, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 20, 2024. Aqil was a key player in Hezbollah’s military operations, responsible for organizing attacks against Israeli forces and leading the group’s tunnel construction in Lebanon. His involvement in major terrorist acts dates back to the 1983 Beirut US Embassy bombing, which killed 63 people. Aqil had a $7 million bounty on his head due to his extensive history of orchestrating attacks.
The IDF says that Aqil was the leader of Hezbollah’s operations unit for 2o years. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the late terrorist, Ibrahim Aqil, “had the blood of many innocent people on his hands-Americans, Israelis, French, Lebanese, and more.” Although Aqil’s death is a blow to Hezbollah, they are notorious for quickly and efficiently replacing top commanders.
What is the Radwan Force?
Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force is a highly trained unit responsible for special operations, particularly targeting Israel. Named after Ali Hussein Radwan, a Hezbollah commander killed in battle, this force is considered the most capable and strategically important within Hezbollah’s military structure. Known for its sophisticated tactics, the Radwan Force has been involved in cross-border raids, guerrilla warfare, and tunnel operations, often drawing on combat experience from conflicts in Syria. The unit operates with high secrecy and plays a key role in the group’s strategic military planning.
The Radwan Force is a critical asset for Hezbollah, enabling the group to carry out highly coordinated and clandestine attacks. It specializes in infiltrations, sabotage missions, and engaging in direct combat with Israeli forces. Their activities include preparing for possible invasions into Israeli territory, and they are reportedly involved in the construction and use of tunnels along the Lebanon-Israel border. Radwan operatives are known for their elite training, receiving support and guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The airstrike targeted a meeting in a heavily fortified building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Aqil and other senior Hezbollah operatives were gathered underground. Specifically, the Haret Hreik neighborhood was targeted. In addition to Aqil, over a dozen Hezbollah members, including senior commander Ahmed Wahabi, were killed in the strike. Sixty-six others were injured, with 9 reported to be in critical condition. The operation marks one of the most significant Israeli military actions against Hezbollah leadership in years.
Initial reports indicate that the airstrike was carried out by F-35 fighter jets in two sorties. It leveled the apartment building where the terrorists were meeting and did extensive damage to the surrounding neighborhood.
Aqil’s death is likely to escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, especially considering his central role in planning attacks similar to Hamas‘ October 7 actions against Israel. Hezbollah has already retaliated with a barrage of rocket strikes following the news of his assassination, intensifying the already volatile situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
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