Who is Ibrahim Aqil, Hezbollah leader targeted by Israeli Occupation in Beirut?

On Friday, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched a targeted attack in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with Hebrew media reporting that the strike was aimed at Ibrahim Aqil, a key member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council who assumed its presidency after the assassination of Fuad Shukr.

Ibrahim Aqil is a prominent military leader within Hezbollah, playing a crucial role in enhancing the party's military capabilities, particularly in field operations and intelligence gathering.

He is recognized as one of the influential figures responsible for organizing and directing complex military operations against the Israeli Occupation, both in southern Lebanon and in various regional conflicts.

In the 1980s, Aqil was a significant member of the Islamic Jihad Organization affiliated with Hezbollah, claiming responsibility for the bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which resulted in 63 casualties, as well as the bombing of the US Marine barracks in October 1983, which killed 241 American personnel.

He also oversaw the operation that led to the hostage-taking of American and German nationals in Lebanon during that same decade.

The US State Department designated Aqil as a specially designated global terrorist on September 10, 2019, under Executive Order 13224, as amended.

Relatively little public information is available about Aqil, making him a somewhat mysterious figure in military circles, largely due to the nature of his security and military role within Hezbollah.