A source close to Hezbollah informed AFP that an Israeli air strike on Friday resulted in the death of the group's elite Radwan unit chief. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed it conducted 'a targeted strike' on the Lebanese capital.
'The Israeli air strike killed Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil, the second-in-command of its armed forces after Fuad Shukr,' who was also killed by an Israeli strike in July, in Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold, according to the source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Friday's strike marked the third incident blamed on or claimed by Israel to hit the southern suburbs of Beirut since October, when Hezbollah initiated cross-border clashes with Israel in support of Palestinian militants Hamas during the Gaza war. The latest strike occurred just days after deadly sabotage attacks on Hezbollah's communications devices escalated tensions.
'Israel conducted an air strike on the Beirut southern suburbs near Al-Qaem mosque,' a Lebanese security source told AFP, also requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out a 'targeted strike' in Beirut.
In a 'preliminary toll,' Lebanon's health ministry reported that the strike resulted in the death of three people, with hospitals receiving 17 wounded. Hezbollah's Al-Manar television broadcast live footage from the scene, showing ambulances rushing to the area and transporting injured individuals on stretchers. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported 'an enemy raid targeting an apartment in a residential building in the Al-Jamous area of the southern suburb' of Beirut.
The previous strikes on south Beirut claimed the lives of Shukr on July 30 and Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri on January 2.
