Hezbollah confirms assassination of top-ranking commander Ibrahim Aqil in Israeli strike

The Lebanese resistance Hezbollah has announced the assassination of top-ranking commander Ibrahim Aqil in an Israeli strike.

Hezbollah in a statement on Friday night heaped praise on its martyred commander.

The resistance movement said that “the distinguished jihadi leader, Hajj Ibrahim Aqeel [Hajj Abdul Qader], has joined the ranks of his martyred brothers, the great leaders who came before him.”

“His life was one of unwavering dedication—marked by jihad, perseverance, sacrifice and unyielding commitment in the face of adversity,” the statement added.

“He has truly earned this supreme divine honor,” it said.

Hezbollah said the great leader always deserved to receive such high divine honor following a blessed life full of jihad, work, wounds, sacrifices, risks, challenges, achievements, and victories.

“Al-Quds (Jerusalem) was ever-present in his heart and mind, day and night. It was his deepest passion, and praying in Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque remained his greatest aspiration,” the statement noted.

“Al-Quds was always in his heart and in his mind and in his thoughts day and night. Al-Quds was the obsession of his soul, and praying in its mosques was his dream,” it added.

Hezbollah said, “We pledge to his pure soul to uphold his mission [of liberating Al-Quds] and remain steadfast in pursuing his dreams and goals until ultimate victory, God willing.”

The statement added that Hezbollah extended its heartfelt condolences and congratulations to Imam Mahdi (AS), the twelfth Shia Imam, and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and resistance fighters and loyal supporters of the resistance.

“Special prayers and thoughts go to the families of the martyrs, particularly Hajj Ibrahim's. May God grant them patience, solace and reward in this world and the next,” the statement said.

"May He also accept this noble martyr among the righteous and unite him with the Messenger of God and his pure household and the martyrs of Karbala,” it concluded.

Hajj Aqil joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and was responsible for the resistance group’s operations against Israel.

Israeli airstrikes target Beirut; several children among fatalities

The Israeli military carries out an airstrike against the Lebanese capital Beirut, killing five children.

Earlier on Friday, Israel staged what it called a “targeted strike” in Beirut, killing at least 14 people and injuring another 66.

According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA), five children were among the fatalities.

Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television network said a drone fired several missiles against Beirut’s heavily populated Dahiyeh suburb. The NNA, meanwhile, said an F35 jet targeted residential areas with two strikes.

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