20 September 2024 Beirut attack

Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in an ongoing cross-border military exchanges that has displaced entire communities in Israel and Lebanon since the start of the Israel–Hamas war in late 2023.{{Cite web |date=16 April 2024 |title=Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill three including Hezbollah commander, sources say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-lebanon-kill-three-including-hezbollah-commander-sources-say-2024-04-16/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=27 August 2024 |title=Lebanon: Flash Update #25 − Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 23 August 2024 − Lebanon |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-flash-update-25-escalation-hostilities-south-lebanon-23-august-2024 |access-date=27 August 2024 |website=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |language=en |archive-date=23 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923020751/https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-flash-update-25-escalation-hostilities-south-lebanon-23-august-2024 |url-status=live }}

Earlier on 17 September 2024, just a few hours before the explosions, the Security Cabinet of Israel established a new war objective: the safe return of displaced residents to the north.{{Cite web |last=Lukiv |first=Jaroslav |date=17 September 2024 |title=Israel sets new war goal of returning residents to the north |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cglkkrj94ldo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920054511/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cglkkrj94ldo |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=17 September 2024 |title=The return of evacuated residents to northern Israel is now a war goal, PMO says |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-820445 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920061310/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-820445 |url-status=live }} Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, announced it had thwarted a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior defense official using an explosive device.{{Cite news |last=Lubell |first=Maayan |date=17 September 2024 |title=Israel says it thwarted Hezbollah plot to kill former defence official |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-thwarted-hezbollah-plot-kill-former-defence-official-2024-09-17/ |work=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last=Bob |first=Yonah Jeremy |author-link=Yonah Jeremy Bob |date=17 September 2024 |title=Did Israel retaliate against Hezbollah for attempted assassination of ex-defense chief? − analysis |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-820540 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919011809/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-820540 |archive-date=19 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}} On the same day and the following one, thousands of handheld pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded in simultaneous attacks across Lebanon and Syria.{{cite web |date=17 September 2024 |title=Video shows pagers exploding in Lebanon attack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/17/world/israel-hamas-war-news/here-are-the-latest-developments |accessdate=17 September 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=17 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917155056/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/17/world/israel-hamas-war-news/here-are-the-latest-developments |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Pagers explosion: Thousands hurt across Lebanon, health minister says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwyl9048gx8t |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=17 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917161447/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwyl9048gx8t |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Da Silva |first=Chantal |date=17 September 2024 |title=Exploding pagers belonging to Hezbollah kill 8 and injure more than 2,700 in Lebanon |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-pagers-expolsion-lebanon-handheld-devices-rcna171457 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917143611/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-pagers-expolsion-lebanon-handheld-devices-rcna171457 |archive-date=17 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}} According to The New York Times, Israeli intelligence services had manufactured the devices.{{Cite news |last1=Frenkel |first1=Sheera |last2=Bergman |first2=Ronen |author-link2=Ronen Bergman |last3=Saad |first3=Hwaida |author-link3=Hwaida Saad |date=18 September 2024 |title=How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/world/middleeast/israel-exploding-pagers-hezbollah.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920004904/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/world/middleeast/israel-exploding-pagers-hezbollah.html |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |work=The New York Times}} The incident was described by Hezbollah's officials as the organization's biggest security breach since the start of the conflict.{{Cite web |last=Gritten |first=David |date=18 September 2024 |title=Dozens of Hezbollah members reportedly hurt by exploding pagers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7xnelvpepo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920073945/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7xnelvpepo |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

Ibrahim Aqil was a Lebanese militant and senior official in Hezbollah.{{Cite web |last=Frantzman |first=Seth J. |date=2023-12-03 |title=Israel identifies Hezbollah's Ibrahim Aqil as head of the deadly Radwan unit |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-776304 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815191458/https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-776304 |archive-date=2024-08-15 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}} He was a member of the Jihad Council, which oversees the military and security operations of the organization. Aqil served as the head of operations and was considered by some as the de facto Chief of Staff of Hezbollah.{{Cite web |title=Ibrahim Aqil – Rewards For Justice |url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/ibrahim-aqil/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102003311/https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/ibrahim-aqil/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=EXCLUSIVE: Iran orders Hezbollah to target Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-iran-orders-hezbollah-target-saudi-arabia |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920132735/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-iran-orders-hezbollah-target-saudi-arabia |url-status=live }} He was also believed to be the head of the Redwan Force, an elite Hezbollah branch.{{cite web |last1=Beeri |first1=Tal |date=5 January 2023 |title=The Radwan Unit ("Radwan Force" − Unit 125) |url=https://israel-alma.org/2023/01/05/the-radwan-unit-radwan-force-unit-125/ |access-date=4 November 2023 |website=Alma Research and Education Center |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014000647/https://israel-alma.org/2023/01/05/the-radwan-unit-radwan-force-unit-125/ |url-status=live }}

In the 1980s, he was a key figure in the Islamic Jihad Organization, a terrorist cell operated by Hezbollah and responsible for 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.{{Cite web |last1=Hjelmgaard |first1=Kim |last2=Morrison |first2=Dan |date=2024-09-20 |title=Beirut strike kills suspect in 1983 Lebanon bombings that killed 300 Americans |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/09/20/israel-hezbollah-lebanon/75303175007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920155300/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/09/20/israel-hezbollah-lebanon/75303175007/ |archive-date=2024-09-20 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} During the 1980s, Aqil was responsible for the kidnapping of American and German hostages.{{Cite news |last1=Adelson |first1=Daniel |last2=Eichner |first2=Itamar |last3= |first3= |date=2023-04-18 |title=סוחר האמנות שמממן את חיזבאללה, ופרס המיליונים על ראשו של רב המחבלים |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hk11kwv3m2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920142703/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hk11kwv3m2 |archive-date=2024-09-20 |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=Ynet |language=he}}

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. He was reportedly involved in planning a Hezbollah operation in northern Israel, which was believed to be similar to the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.{{Cite web |last=El Deeb |first=Sarah |date=2024-09-20 |title=Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli airstrike was top military official on US wanted list |url=https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-mideast-tensions-attack-8ec89de2b117b52e2c09b19155e35d13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929181149/https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-mideast-tensions-attack-8ec89de2b117b52e2c09b19155e35d13 |archive-date=2024-09-29 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}

On 20 September 2024, at around 15:45 EEST, an air-strike targeted a building on Jamous Street in the neighborhood of al-Qaem in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold. Initial reports suggested Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's second in command, was one of those who was targeted.{{Cite web|url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1427855/targeted-drone-strike-on-beiruts-southern-suburbs-what-we-know-so-far.html|title=Recap: Major Israeli strike kills Hezbollah Radwan Forces commanders - L'Orient Today|date=20 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-20|archive-date=2024-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920134653/https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1427855/targeted-drone-strike-on-beiruts-southern-suburbs-what-we-know-so-far.html|url-status=live}} The Lebanese National News Agency said that the air-strike was carried out in two sorties by an F-35 fighter jet.

At least 45 people{{Cite web |title=At least 45 killed in Israeli strike on suburb in Lebanon's Beirut |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/21/death-toll-from-israeli-strike-on-beirut-suburb-rises-to-31 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} including three children and seven women were killed, while 68 others were injured.{{Cite web |last1=Jamal |first1=Urooba |last2=Marsi |first2=Federica |date=21 September 2024 |title=Death toll in Beirut attack goes up |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/21/israels-war-on-gaza-live-inconceivable-toll-of-human-suffering-in-gaza |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |quote=Lebanon’s Health Minister says at least 31 people, including three children and seven women, were killed in the Israeli attack on southern Beirut yesterday. Another 68 people were wounded in the attack, he added. The three children among the 31 killed in Israel’s attack on southern Beirut yesterday were aged four, six and 10, Lebanon’s Health Minister said during a press conference. |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921000814/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/21/israels-war-on-gaza-live-inconceivable-toll-of-human-suffering-in-gaza |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/israel-hits-beirut-lebanon-air-strike-hezbollah-fires-rockets |title=Israeli air attack on Beirut kills 14 as cross-border fire intensifies |date=20 September 2024 |work=Al Jazeera}} Footage of the targeted site shows extensive damage to the building, with the street littered with debris and destroyed vehicles. It was also reported that the IDF confirmed a "targeted strike"; no changes in Home Front Command defensive guidelines were announced.{{Cite news |title=Israel targets top Hezbollah figure in Beirut strike, sources say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-peacekeepers-lebanon-urge-de-escalation-after-heavy-airstrikes-2024-09-20/ |work=Reuters}} The strike leveled the apartment building, cutting through the eight storeys and 16 apartments down to its basement. Another building also collapsed in the attack. Rescue workers immediately started digging through the rubble as 20 people remain missing from the attack.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-21 |title=الميادين: ارتفاع حصيلة العدوان الإسرائيلي على الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت إلى 19 شهيداً ونحو 20 مفقوداً ..أخر المستجدات |url=https://ar.pressbee.net/show8655636.html?title=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=برس بي |language=ar |archive-date=2024-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921073418/https://ar.pressbee.net/show8655636.html?title=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A |url-status=live }}

The IDF said that at least 10 Hezbollah commanders were killed in the airstrike in Beirut alongside Ibrahim Aqil,{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emmanuel |title=Hagari: Aqil, top leadership were underground, below a residential building at time of strike |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hagari-aqil-top-radwan-force-leadership-were-underground-below-a-residential-building-at-time-of-strike/ |date=20 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=The Times of Israel |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921212258/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hagari-aqil-top-radwan-force-leadership-were-underground-below-a-residential-building-at-time-of-strike/ |url-status=live }} who was holding a meeting at the basement of the building at the time of the strike.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-rocket-attack-mideast-tensions-0584727974096d98d1b5b132dfd1d218 |title=Death toll from Israeli airstrike on Beirut suburb rises to 31 as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire |work=Associated Press |date=21 September 2024 |accessdate=21 September 2024 |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921090358/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-rocket-attack-mideast-tensions-0584727974096d98d1b5b132dfd1d218 |url-status=live }} Hezbollah later confirmed the deaths of 15 of its members in the airstrike, including Aqil and Ahmed Wehbe.{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emmanuel |date=21 September 2024 |title=Hagari: Aqil, top leadership were underground, below a residential building at time of strike |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollah-names-14-more-members-killed-in-airstrike-including-a-seniorcommander/ |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=The Times of Israel |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921074923/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollah-names-14-more-members-killed-in-airstrike-including-a-seniorcommander/ |url-status=live }}

The assassinations of Aqil and Wehbe marked the second and third Hezbollah commanders killed by Israel after Fuad Shukr in two months.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/israel-hits-beirut-lebanon-air-strike-hezbollah-fires-rockets|title=Israeli air attack on Beirut kills 14 as cross-border fire intensifies|work=Al Jazeera|date=21 September 2024|accessdate=21 September 2024|archive-date=21 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921000139/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/israel-hits-beirut-lebanon-air-strike-hezbollah-fires-rockets|url-status=live}}

{{As of|2024|December|11}}, five people remain missing.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2024 |title=13 missing under the rubble of Beirut and Dahieh buildings as a result of the Israeli aggression |url=https://www.dearborn.org/preview/13-missing-under-the-rubble-of-beirut-and-dahieh-buildings-as-a-result-of-the-israeli-aggression-63186 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=dearborn.org |language=en}}

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the attack "proves again that the Israeli enemy does not value any human, legal or moral considerations".

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said he was "not aware of any prior notification regarding Israeli strikes on Beirut".{{Cite web |title='10 Hezbollah commanders' killed alongside Ibrahim Aqil in Israeli Haret Hreik strike, Israeli army says: Day 350 of the Gaza war - L'Orient Today |date=20 September 2024 |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1427789/-day-350-of-the-gaza-war.html}} US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the assassination served justice to Aqil, stating: "any time a terrorist who has murdered Americans is brought to justice, we believe that that is a good outcome."{{Cite news |last=Hunnicutt |first=Trevor |date=2024-09-21 |title=Sullivan expresses worry over escalating Israel-Lebanon tension, calls Hezbollah strike as justice served |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/sullivan-says-israel-lebanon-escalation-worrying-justice-served-strike-hezbollah-2024-09-21/ |work=Reuters}}

Hamas denounced the attack, calling it a "crime" and saying that "Israel would pay the price" for the killings.{{Cite web |date=20 September 2024 |title=Hamas condemns killing of senior Hezbollah commander |url=https://aje.io/px2nij?update=3192281 |website=Al Jazeera}}

Hezbollah confirmed Aqil's death. In a statement, the group labelled him "a great jihadist leader", adding that he had "joined the procession of his brothers, the great martyr leaders, after a blessed life full of jihad, work, wounds, sacrifices, dangers, challenges, achievements, and victories."{{Cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Julia |last2=Mroue |first2=Bassem |date=2024-09-20 |title=Rare Israeli airstrike in Beirut kills Hezbollah commander and more than a dozen others |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-rocket-attack-mideast-tensions-a6a95169a21b45dc86d86182e255fa7e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921235625/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-rocket-attack-mideast-tensions-a6a95169a21b45dc86d86182e255fa7e |archive-date=2024-09-21 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=AP News |language=en}} Hezbollah also named Ali Reda Abbas as the new leader of the Redwan Force.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Hezbollah's Radwan Force chooses its new lead commander - report |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-821191 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}

• List of Israeli assassinations
• List of assassinations in Lebanon
• 2024 Haret Hreik airstrike
• Assassination of Imad Mughniyeh
• Assassination of Saleh al-Arouri

{{Reflist}}

{{Gaza war}}

{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}

{{Targeted killing by Israel}}

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