IDF kills Hezbollah's top commander

[soandso]

The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that it killed Hezbollah’s top military commander and at least 10 other senior commanders in a rare airstrike targeting the terror group’s stronghold in Beirut, as the sides appeared closer than ever to entering a full-fledged war.

The IDF said the most prominent target of its airstrike, Ibrahim Aqil, was the head of Hezbollah’s military operations, the acting commander of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force, and was overseeing a planned operation to invade the Galilee.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that at least 10 members of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force and operations array were killed in the strike, which Lebanese media reported was carried out by an Israeli F-35 fighter jet using two missiles.

Aqil had also been wanted by the United States for his role in the 1983 bombings of the American Embassy in Lebanon and the US Marines barracks in Beirut.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-kills-hezbollahs-top-commander-says-he-was-overseeing-plan-for-invasion-of-galilee/

Israel has delivered massive destruction to Hezbollah these past few months, including taking out Iranians. I don't know how much capability and personnel Hezbollah has or if they can survive what's been done but if they can, I would guess this war is going to get a lot worse.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. This piece of shit, now blown up pieces of shit, is responsible for many of my friends deaths

in the '83 bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon, he, and his fellow terrorists, can rest in piss for eternity and I'm celebrating his demise with a bottle of beer.

[soandso]

2. I remember when that happened

But don't know much about it. Why were US Marines in Lebanon?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. Here, this explains it

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-marines-deployed-to-lebanon

During the Lebanese Civil War, a multinational force including 800 U.S. Marines lands in Beirut to oversee the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon. It was the beginning of a problem-plagued mission that would stretch into 17 months and leave 262 U.S. servicemen dead.

In 1975, a bloody civil war erupted in Lebanon, with Palestinian and leftist Muslim guerrillas battling militias of the Christian Phalange Party, the Maronite Christian community, and other groups. During the next few years, Syrian, Israeli, and United Nations interventions failed to resolve the factional fighting, and in August 1982 a multinational force arrived to oversee the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon.

The Marines left Lebanese territory on September 10 but returned on September 29 following the massacre of Palestinian refugees by a Christian militia. The next day, the first U.S. Marine to die during the mission was killed while defusing a bomb. On April 18, 1983, the U.S. embassy in Beirut was devastated by a car bomb, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. Then, on October 23, Lebanese terrorists evaded security measures and drove a truck packed with explosives into the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. military personnel. Fifty-eight French soldiers were killed almost simultaneously in a separate suicide terrorist attack. On February 7, 1984, President Ronald Reagan announced the end of U.S. participation in the peacekeeping force.

[soandso]

6. Thanks

I think I read something about that particular massacre mentioned. When I did, I looked at a list of massacres in Lebanon and was astounded. Lots and lots of them, committed by various parties. Very sad as it looks like a gorgeous country and I know that Beirut was once called the Paris of the middle east. My impression about that was that while everyone was living the jet set high life, it was full of international intrigue like a Bond movie.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. You just described Lebanon back then perfectly.

[soandso]

8. Sounded kind of cool

I briefly dated a guy from Beirut back then, though I knew nothing about the politics over there. He hated what happened to his home (civil war). His dad was an architect and with some Christian militia.

[edhopper]

16. Is that one of the terrorists

Reagan released?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

17. Not that I know of,

I couldn't find anything about Reagan releasing Ibrahim Aqil.

[edhopper]

19. Probably other terrorists then

Part of Iran Contra

[jimfields33]

26. Such great news that he was killed.

I’m deeply sorry about your friends. I hope this brings a little peace.

[soandso]

3. Failed to mention the soccer field missile here but still important info

An Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon would be a “doomsday” scenario leading to an all-out regional conflict and the radicalization of Muslims in Europe, a senior Lebanese diplomat warned in an interview with The Times on 20 September.

Rami Mortada, Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK, warned that the UK-trained Lebanese army would not “stand idly” by and watch if Israel launches a ground invasion or “heavy aerial attack” on Lebanon.

Israel has said it seeks to create a buffer zone in south Lebanon by pushing Hezbollah’s forces some 30 kilometers away from the Israel border to behind the Litani River.

Since 8 October, Hezbollah has been striking Israeli military sites near the border with missiles and drones, forcing Israelis in the northern settlements to evacuate their homes. Hezbollah says it will continue targeting Israel until its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is halted.

https://thecradle.co/articles/lebanons-uk-envoy-warns-of-doomsday-scenario-for-west-asia-europe-if-israel-expands-war

[soandso]

5. And here is the Latini River

How does Israel push Hezbollah back to the other side of this river without occupying that territory?

[TheKentuckian]

22. Why is the Lebanese army standing idly by allowing Hezbollah to attack Lebanon's neighbor?

Either they sure don't have the juice to oppose Israel or they do but at best refuse to control organized terrorism and at worst are acting as a state sponsor.

Either way, who gives a shit what they have to say?

[Beastly Boy]

31. Hezbollah is much stronger and better equipped than the Lebanese army.

And Iran pays much better wages than Lebanon.

[EX500rider]

25. "warned that the UK-trained Lebanese army would not "stand idly" by and watch if Israel launches a ground invasion"

Lebanon military budget $4.7 billion
Israel $30.5 billion

Experience & modernity of both militaries also no where near equal.
They be smarter to stand aside and let the IDF tear up Hezbollah

[soandso]

9. On the Israelis from the north

who are waiting or want to return:

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against a ground operation in south Lebanon during his speech on 19 September and promised a “just” response to the terror attacks carried out by Israeli intelligence across the country over the past two days.

Responding to recent threats, Nasrallah addressed Israeli leadership and asserted that a ground incursion into Lebanon would not help bring back thousands of settlers who have been evacuated from Israel’s northern settlements.

"I say to Netanyahu and Gallant, you will not be able to return the [settlers] to the north, and this is the challenge between us," he said. “The only way to do this is to stop the aggression on Gaza and nothing else will help achieve this, neither military escalation nor anything else. Rather, what you will be doing will increase the displacement of these people.”

Nasrallah confirmed once again that Hezbollah’s operations will not stop until the war in Gaza ends, and that nothing can separate the Lebanese support front from Gaza.

https://thecradle.co/articles/hezbollah-chief-challenges-israeli-leaders-you-will-not-return-settlers-to-the-north

[DavidDvorkin]

10. "Settlers", "settlements"

No, those are towns, villages, and farms that are inside Insrael, and those are the Israelis who live there.

[soandso]

11. I know

But that's Nasrallah talking so it must be how he sees it. In fact, when I read that I looked to see a map history of that area and it was originally "given to" the Palestinians when the UN came up with a partition plan. The Arab population rejected it.

[AloeVera]

28. Hmmmm... I see.

That's interesting. I've rarely seen the rejection of the plan used to imply Israel could then take lands designated for Palestinians under the Plan.

Which is what Israel did, in 1948. Israel was gifted 56% of mandate Palestine under the Plan, though comprising half the population of the majority Arabs who owned over 90% of the lands.

Seems like a good deal for Israel, not so good for Palestinians. Can't imagine why they rejected it.

But sarcasm aside, here's the icing on the cake. After declaring independence unilaterally and immediately after British withdrawal, and after having already expelled over 200,000 Palestinians from their homes, Israel was just getting started. By the end of the "War of Independence", over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled, Israel captured and kept an additional 22% of Palestinian -designated territory, bringing its share of mandate Palestine to 78%.

The captured-and-kept (aka occupied) Palestinian lands included a large swath of what is now Northern Israel.

From your map, note also how big the West Bank and Gaza were under the Plan, compared to today.

The reality is that from the 44% of their OWN EFFING lands the Palestinians were "allowed" to keep under the Partition Plan, they are now reduced to less than 10% with towns cut-off and terrorized by the violent settlers and now even the IDF.

But getting back to my point - from the Palestinian POV, the Israeli people inhabiting the conquered north of Israel, the conquered environs of Gaza, and large swathes of the West Bank - are indeed "settlers". Because they are on lands designated by the UN for Palestinians.

I am sure you didn't mean to imply that rejection of Partition meant the loss of Palestinian rights and claim to any of their territory, a totally indefensible argument.

[soandso]

29. You are correct

I was not implying that or anything. Just stating what happened, which from the standpoint of the Palestinians, the inhabitants, was perfectly reasonable. A bunch of foreigners (the UN) devised a plan to steal their land. The history is the elephant in the room that is too often glossed over. The state of Israel is now a fait accompli but that doesn't make the history irrelevant and it's the reason for all of the conflict today.

[AloeVera]

30. Thank you.

Agree 100% on all of it - well-stated.

[Beastly Boy]

32. Israel didn't take an inch of the land designated for the Palestinian state.

Last edited Sat Sep 21, 2024, 07:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Israel won it in a war that started with the combined armies of five Arab League states crossing the borders of Israel adopted by the UN Resolution 181, and invaded Israel. The Arabs wanted that land for themselves. All of it. And the Palestinian leaders went along with them. They lost. An unexpected but consequential outcome.

The myth of the Arabs owning 90% of land in Mandatory Palestine is pure bullshit. A map of the territory prepared for the UN shows that ownership of the land is equally divided between Jews, Arabs and public lands belonging to neither.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Palestine/comments/ujjkzm/land_ownership_in_historic_palestine_circa_1945/#lightbox

After the Arab League forces suffered a humiliating defeat, Israel signed armistice agreement with the Arab League states which established the pre-1967 Israel border, with the remainder of what was designated to be the Palestinian Stare by the UN, namely the West Bank and Gaza, being promptly annexed by Jordan and Egypt, respectively. By then, 48 of the 60 UN member states recognized Israel de jure within its armistice borders.

The territory gained by Israel in this war was roughly equivalent to the territories annexed by Jordan and Egypt. Not so good for Palestinians indeed. They were not "allowed" to keep any of that territory. People still can't imagine why the Palestinians rejected the UN offer.

Palestinians as a group never had their own territory, and they wasted several opportunities to get it.

You have no point. It is all based on made up bullshit that ignores 80% of the facts and spins the rest beyond recognition.

[Mossfern]

33. Were there such a thing as "Palestinians" back then?

I thought they were merely Arabs living in the area.

[soandso]

34. The area was called Palestine

Hence, British Palestine Mandate. Makes sense to refer to the people living there as Palestinians (who were not all Arabs).

[Mossfern]

36. So the Jewish people living there were Palestinians too.

No?

[soandso]

37. I don't know how they referred to themselves

Palestinian Jews? Beats me.

[soandso]

38. Etymology of Palestine/Palestinian

1875 (adj.) "of or pertaining to the Holy Land;" 1905 (n.) "an inhabitant of Palestine," from Palestine + -ian. Also in early use with reference to Jews who settled or advocated Jewish settlement in that place.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/Palestine

[soandso]

14. Lebanese FM using the same word, making same threat

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib affirmed that Israeli settlers will not return to the northern settlements by force of arms, emphasizing that if "Israel" expands its aggression, more Israelis will be displaced as a direct result.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/force-of-arms-will-not-return-israelis-to-north--lebanon-fm

He's not Hezbollah, either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdallah_Bou_Habib

[TheKentuckian]

23. Hey Nasrallah, how about wiping every last one of you off the face of the Earth and salting the ground where

you once stood?

Sounds fair.

[soandso]

12. However one feels about this conflict

This does not bode well:

Link to tweet

[jimfields33]

27. He keeps killing terrorists and it will change the Middle East!

[soandso]

13. I've seen this news elsewhere, too

Link to tweet

[Cha]

15. TY for all this information, soandso.

[EX500rider]

18. How would the US or any other country respond to a neighboring country firing thousands of rockets at its towns?

[DavidDvorkin]

20. I've often asked that question, and the only answer I ever get is, "That's completely different!"

[EX500rider]

21. We'd cry havoc & let slip the dogs of war...the JDAM's and Reapers would be overhead in hours

[soandso]

24. The same way, no doubt

Hell, the US has demolished countries that never attacked us and posed no threat.

[soandso]

35. Something needs to be done about these settlers

Palestinian olive farmer Eid cuts a despondent figure as he sits in his living room in his home at the edge of the West Bank village of Burin, head bowed, wondering how he will pay the bills and support his family.

The reason for his dark mood when The Times of Israel visited him last Thursday was the latest in a series of blows he has suffered to his ability to earn a livelihood from his land: Fires, apparently started deliberately, had swept through olive groves belonging to him and others on land around Burin last Wednesday, damaging or destroying hundreds of trees.

Eid estimates that some 300 of his 900 olive trees were destroyed, although he has not been able to reach his land to check the extent of the damage, due to his fear of attack by extremist settlers and IDF restrictions on access.

Footage taken from the morning of the fires by a field operative of the Yesh Din organization, which tracks settler violence, showed five masked individuals, one of whom was carrying a chainsaw, leaving the olive groves as small fires burned among the trees.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/smoke-point-a-palestinian-olive-farmer-despairs-after-hundreds-of-trees-set-ablaze/