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Ibrahim Aqil

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Ibrahim Aqil
ابراهيم عقيل
Ibrahim Aqil
Member of the Jihad Council
Personal details
BornLebanon
Died(2024-09-20)20 September 2024
Haret Hreik, Lebanon
Political party Hezbollah
Other political
affiliations		Islamic Jihad Organization (Lebanon)
Known forCommander in Chief of Redwan Force, involvement in the 1983 US embassy and Beirut barracks bombings
AwardsDesignated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Department of State
Military service
Allegiance Hezbollah
Branch/serviceHezbollah military wing
RankCommander in Chief
UnitRedwan Force
Battles/warsLebanese Civil War, South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000), Syrian Civil War, 2006 Lebanon War, Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)

Ibrahim Aqil (or Ibrahim Akil, Template:Lang-ar), also known as Al-Hajj Tahsin or Tahsin, or by his alias Al-Hajj Abdul Khader, was a Lebanese militant who served as a commander in chief of Hezbollah's Redwan Force. He was a member of the Jihad Council, which oversees the military and security operations of the organisation. Some considered Aqil as the de facto Chief of Staff of Hezbollah. He was accused of being a key planner of assassinations targeting opponents of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In the 1980s, Aqil was a key figure in Hezbollah's cell responsible for the 1983 US embassy bombing and the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings. On 21 July 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Aqil under Executive Order 13582 for his role in Hezbollah. In September 2019, the U.S. Department of State listed him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Rewards for Justice Program offered a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to his capture.

In 2023, Aqil was reported to be the chief commander of the Radwan Force, a special unit tasked with capturing Israel's Galilee region. He is thought to have served as the deputy to Fuad Shukr, the former commander of Hezbollah's military wing, before Shukr's death.

On 20 September 2024, Aqil was killed by an Israel Defense Forces strike in Haret Hreik, Lebanon.

Biography

In the 1980s, Aqil was a key figure in the Islamic Jihad Organization, a group affiliated with Hezbollah. The organization carried out the 1983 US embassy bombing in Beirut, killing 63 people, and the attacks on the multinational force bases in Beirut that resulted in the deaths of 305 people. During the 1980s, Aqil was responsible for the kidnapping of American and German hostages.

On 4 February 2000, during the South Lebanon conflict, AH-64 Apache helicopters fired AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at Aqil's car in the village of Barish, where he was serving as Hezbollah's commander of the South Lebanon sector (or the western sector in South Lebanon). The first missile struck the rear of the car and threw him out. He escaped and hid behind a building. The second missile destroyed the car. After being spotted hiding, another missile was fired at him and hit the wall. Aqil was lightly injured and managed to escape the incident.

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Aqil was responsible for coordinating intelligence between Hezbollah and the Syrian army. A month later, in September 2006, while serving as the head of Hezbollah's security and intelligence services, the "Intelligence Online" reported that Aqil was one of three Hezbollah operatives, along with Hassan Nasrallah and Mustafa Badreddine, who visited North Korea for several months during the 1980s and early 1990s for training.

On 21 July 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Aqil as closely tied to Hezbollah's leadership and acting on its behalf, along with other senior figures in the organization—Mustafa Badreddine, Fuad Shukr, and Abd al-Nur Shalaan. He was identified as playing a key role in Hezbollah's military campaign in Syria by assisting the organization's fighters and pro-Syrian regime forces against Syrian opposition forces during the Syrian Civil War. Aqil had also been sought through several 'Red Notices' by Interpol, documenting his long history with the organization, including involvement in the kidnapping and holding of two German citizens in the late 1980s and the bombing campaign in Paris in 1986.

In May 2016, following the assassination of Mustafa Badreddine, Aqil was one of two candidates (alongside Fuad Shukr) considered to succeed him as Hezbollah's defence minister. (though others identified Fuad Shukr in this role).

On 10 September 2019, the U.S. Department of State designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. On 18 April 2023, the Rewards for Justice program offered a reward of up to $7 million for information about him.

Before his death, Aqil served as the head of Hezbollah's operations and was responsible for the Redwan Force, among other things, during the Hezbollah–Israel conflict that began following Hezbollah's attacks on Israel the day after Hamas' October 7 attacks. He also led Hezbollah's tunnel project in Lebanon.

Assassination

Main article: Assassination of Ibrahim Aqil

On 20 September 2024, Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike on a building in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, reportedly aimed at Aqil, according to Lebanese security sources. The Israeli military confirmed the attack targeted Aqil, and later confirmed Aqil's death. Saudi reports were the first to report his death. IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Aqil and other top leadership of the elite Radwan Force were gathered underground when they were targeted and killed in the Israeli airstrike. He also claimed that at least 10 Hezbollah commanders were killed in the airstrike in Beirut. Hezbollah also confirmed Aqil's death.

References

  1. ^ "Israel identifies Hezbollah's Ibrahim Aqil as head of the special forces Radwan unit". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ^ "IDFANC Event". idfanc.activetrail.biz. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Ibrahim Aqil – Rewards For Justice". rewardsforjustice.net. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Exclusive: Iran orders Hezbollah to target Saudi Arabia". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ^ "שקט מדומה: כך צמח ארגון הטרור הרצחני בצפון". mako. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. "US State Department offers $7 million reward for Hezbollah leader". www.israelnationalnews.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  7. "La force Radwan, le très secret corps d'élite du Hezbollah, dans le viseur d'Israël". www.lemonde.fr (in French). 9 January 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. Beeri, Tal (5 January 2023). "The Radwan Unit ("Radwan Force" - Unit 125)". Alma Research and Education Center. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. "إعلام إسرائيلي: إبراهيم عقيل المستهدف في غارة الضاحية هو قائد العمليات الخاصة بحزب الله (العربية) ..أخر المستجدات". برس بي (in Arabic). 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. Emanuel Fabian, Hezbollah Jihad Council member Ibrahim Aqil was target of Beirut strike, sources say Times of Israel (20 September 2024)
  11. אדלסון, דניאל; יורק, ניו; אייכנר, איתמר (18 April 2023). "סוחר האמנות שמממן את חיזבאללה, ופרס המיליונים על ראשו של רב המחבלים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. "למרות המתיחות בצפון: 12 אלף מבקרים בסוף השבוע בחרמון - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 4 February 2000. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  13. "אף מילה על ישראל". ynet (in Hebrew). 15 May 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  14. USA, IBP (August 2013). Korea North Economic & Development Strategy Handbook Volume 1 Startegic Information and Developments. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4330-2812-0.
  15. "Smoke on the horizon: Israel-Hezbollah all-out war edges closer". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  16. "Israel targeted top Hezbollah figure in Beirut strike, sources say". Reuters. 20 September 2024.
  17. "إعلام إسرائيلي: إبراهيم عقيل المستهدف في غارة الضاحية هو قائد العمليات الخاصة بحزب الله (العربية) ..أخر المستجدات". برس بي (in Arabic). 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  18. Fabian, Emmanuel. "Hagari: Aqil, top leadership were underground, below a residential building at time of strike". Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  19. "Lebanon's Hezbollah confirms top military commander Ibrahim Aqil killed in Israel strike". Reuters. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
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