Senior Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrike on Beirut
A senior Hezbollah military commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon's capital, on Friday, marking a significant escalation and heightening concerns of a full-scale war. Hezbollah confirmed the death of Ibrahim Aqil, following Israel's announcement that he was one of several senior leaders targeted in the strike.
Earlier reports from Lebanese officials stated that at least 14 people were killed, with dozens more injured, when the airstrike hit the densely populated Dahieh area, a Hezbollah stronghold in the city’s southern suburbs.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN's political affairs chief, warned the Security Council that the Middle East faces the risk of a conflict that could "dwarf" the destruction seen so far, following a series of deadly attacks.
In Beirut, chaos erupted as emergency teams scrambled to rescue the wounded and search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble. At least one residential building collapsed, with others severely damaged. Hezbollah members cordoned off streets, some in disbelief, as the attack followed a string of recent blows, including the mysterious explosions of the group’s communication devices earlier in the week, which left 37 people dead.
These attacks, believed to have been carried out by Israel, have killed dozens and injured thousands.
