Tel Aviv: Israel vowed to “remove the threat” of Hezbollah’s capabilities and continue its operation to protect its people. This comes hours after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) neutralized the head of Hezbollah’s Operations Unit, Ibrahim Aqil. In a statement shared on X, the IDF confirmed that it had killed senior Hezbollah military figure Ibrahim Aqil. The IDF soldiers also eliminated several senior operatives from Hezbollah’s Operations Staff and commanders from the Radwan Unit.
It said that Ibrahim Aqil and Radwan commanders were planning Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” attack plan.
Taking to X, the IDF stated, “Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah’s Operations Unit and the Commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, was eliminated in a targeted in an intelligence-based strike in Beirut earlier today. During the strike, senior operatives in Hezbollah’s Operations Staff and commanders from the Radwan Unit were eliminated alongside Aqil.”
“Ibrahim Aqil and the Radwan commanders who were eliminated today were planning Hezbollah’s ‘Conquer the Galilee’ attack plan, in which Hezbollah intended to infiltrate Israeli communities and kidnap and murder innocent civilians in a similar manner to the October 7 Massacre. The IDF will continue to remove the threat of Hezbollah’s capabilities and will continue to operate in all arenas to protect Israeli civilians,” it added.
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Hezbollah has fired over 8,000 rockets, missiles and explosive UAVs at Israeli civilians, forcing more than 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from their homes.
Calling Hezbollah a terrorist organisation, Hagari said, “Hezbollah is an internationally recognised terrorist organization. It is a threat to the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, the Middle East and the entire world. Since October 8, the Hezbollah has fired over 8,000 rockets, missiles and explosive UAVs at Israelis civilians, forcing over 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from their homes. Just today. Hezbollah fired over 200 rockets at Israel.”
He also confirmed the killing of Ibrahim Aqil in a targeted strike in Beirut. He called Aqil a principal member of Islamic Jihad, which he called Hezbollah’s terrorist cell that claimed the bombings of the US Embassy in Beirut in 1983.
Announcing the killing of Aqil, he said, “The Israel Defence Forces has a duty to defend the people of Israel and ensure their safe and secure return to their homes in northern Israel. Today, in pursuit of that goal, the IDF conducted a targeted strike in Beirut on senior terrorist Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah’s Operations Unit and the Commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces. I can now confirm that Ibrahim Aqil was eliminated together with other senior terrorists in Hezbollah Radwan forces.”
“Ibrahim Aqil had the blood of many innocent people on his hands. Israelis. Americans. French, Lebanese and more. During the 1980s, Aqil was a principal member of Islamic Jihad organisation, Hezbollah’s terrorist cell, that claimed the bombings of the US Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which killed 63 people, and the US Marine barracks bombing in October 1983, which killed 241 US personnel. Ibrahim Aqil also directed the kidnapping of Americans and Germans in Lebanon,” he added.
Hagari further said that Aqil and the commanders of the Radwan forces at the time of the strike were gathered underground under a residential building in Beirut’s Dahiyeh. He said that they were planning more terrorist attacks against Israelis.
Admiral Daniel Hagari said, “At the time of the strike. Aqil and the commanders of the Radwan forces were gathered underground under a residential building in the heart of the Dahiyeh in Beirut, hiding among Lebanese civilians, using them as human shields. They were in the middle of planning more terror attacks against Israeli civilians. We are determined to fulfill our mission protecting the people of Israel and fulfilling our goal of bringing our hostages home and ensuring and enduring defeat of Hamas in Gaza.”
Earlier on September 19, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorist capabilities and infrastructure in Lebanon, aiming to bring security to northern Israel to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals.
Recently, the Israel Defense Forces, commonly known as IDF, posted on X, announcing their plan of focusing attention on Hezbollah territories in Lebanon. Their goal is to dismantle Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and significantly reduce its capabilities. It’s no secret that Hezbollah misuses civilian spaces as cover, building tunnels under them, and also uses civilians as a protective shield. This action has, unfortunately, turned southern Lebanon into a battleground. In order to secure northern parts of Israel, IDF’s operations are geared towards ensuring citizens can safely return to their homes whilst achieving military goals.
Defence Minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant, on September 18 expressed the dawn of a “new era” in the ongoing conflict, highlighting a strategic attention shift towards the north. Venting in an X post, Gallant said, “A new era in this war has begun – there is a redirection of resources and forces to the northern terrain. Our primary goal is simple: Get folks from northern Israel back home safely. This, undoubtedly, requires some alterations to the existing security landscape.”
(with ANI inputs)
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