Israel pledges to ‘eliminate Hezbollah threat’ following assassination of top commander

Tel Aviv: Israel vowed to “put off the threat” of Hezbollah’s capabilities and continue its operation to supply protection to its people. This comes hours after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) neutralized the pinnacle 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 a few senior operatives from Hezbollah’s Operations Group of workers 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 pinnacle 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 these days. At some point of the strike, senior operatives in Hezbollah’s Operations Group of workers and commanders from the Radwan Unit were eliminated alongside Aqil.”

“Ibrahim Aqil and the Radwan commanders who were eliminated these days were planning Hezbollah’s ‘Conquer the Galilee’ attack plan, during which Hezbollah intended to infiltrate Israeli communities and kidnap and murder innocent civilians in the same manner to the October 7 Massacre. The IDF will continue to put off the specter of Hezbollah’s capabilities and will continue to function in all arenas to supply protection to Israeli civilians,” it added.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Hezbollah has fired over eight,000 rockets, missiles and explosive UAVs at Israeli civilians, forcing greater than 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from their homes.

Calling Hezbollah a terrorist organisation, Hagari said, “Hezbollah is an internationally recognised terrorist organization. Or not it truly is miles a threat to the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, the Middle East and the total world. Since October eight, the Hezbollah has fired over eight,000 rockets, missiles and explosive UAVs at Israelis civilians, forcing over 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from their homes. Just these days. Hezbollah fired over 200 rockets at Israel.”

He also confirmed the killing of Ibrahim Aqil in a targeted strike in Beirut. He which often often called Aqil a principal member of Islamic Jihad, which he which often often called Hezbollah’s terrorist cell that claimed the bombings of the United States 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 make certain 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 pinnacle of Hezbollah’s Operations Unit and the Commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces. I can now confirm that Ibrahim Aqil was eliminated along with other senior terrorists in Hezbollah Radwan forces.”

“Ibrahim Aqil had the blood of many innocent people on his hands. Israelis. American citizens. French, Lebanese and more. At some point of the 1980s, Aqil was a principal member of Islamic Jihad organisation, Hezbollah’s terrorist cell, that claimed the bombings of the United States Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which killed sixty three people, and the United States Marine barracks bombing in October 1983, which killed 241 US personnel. Ibrahim Aqil also directed the kidnapping of American citizens and Germans in Lebanon,” he added.

Hagari in the same fashion said that Aqil and the commanders of the Radwan forces on 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 within the center of the Dahiyeh in Beirut, hiding among Lebanese civilians, the usage of them as human shields. They were within the center of planning more terror attacks against Israeli civilians. We're determined to fulfill our mission protecting the people of Israel and fulfilling our goal of bringing our hostages home and making certain 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 reach war goals.

Recently, the Israel Defense Forces, commonly which often often called 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 in the reduction of its capabilities. It’s no secret that Hezbollah misuses civilian spaces as cover, building tunnels under them, and likewise uses civilians as a protective shield. This action has, unfortunately, turned southern Lebanon right into a battleground. In an effort to secure northern parts of Israel, IDF’s operations are geared towards making certain citizens can safely return to their homes on the identical time as achieving military goals.

Defence Minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant, on September 18 expressed the break of day of a “new era” within the ongoing conflict, highlighting a strategic attention shift towards the north. Venting in an X post, Gallant said, “A brand new era at some stage in this war has begun – there is a redirection of resources and forces to the northern terrain. Our primary goal is straight forward: Get folks from northern Israel back home safely. This, surely, requires some alterations to the current security landscape.”

(with ANI inputs)