Death Toll Rises to 12 in Israeli Airstrike on Beirut, 66 Injured

Beirut: The death toll from an Israeli strike on a southern suburb of Beirut has climbed to 12, with 66 others injured, according to a statement from the Lebanese Health Ministry on Friday. Officials in Lebanon have updated the number of confirmed casualties from the Israeli airstrike that targeted senior Hezbollah commanders.

Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut has claimed the lives of 12 people, including Ibrahim Aqil, the commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force. The strike targeted a meeting of senior Hezbollah commanders, killing several high-ranking officials.

Aqil, a member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council since 2008 and head of the Radwan Forces, was a key figure in the group's military leadership. His forces had gained significant combat experience during the Syrian war, specializing in urban warfare and counterinsurgency. Aqil had also been on the U.S. wanted list for years.

Israel confirmed the strike, saying it was aimed at pushing Hezbollah fighters away from the border. The attack took place in Beirut's southern Dahiya district, known to be a Hezbollah stronghold, killing Aqil and 10 other operatives.

Little is known about Aqil, who was born in Baalbek in eastern Lebanon and joined Hezbollah during its early years in the 1980s. Military analyst Elijah Magnier described him as one of the group's old guard, having risen through the ranks over decades. The search and rescue operations continue as authorities work to clear the rubble.

(More details are awaited)