Key Hezbollah leader killed in strike, Israeli military says

[former9thward]

Source: Washington Post

A strike Friday on a suburb of Lebanon’s capital killed Ibrahim Aqil, a prominent Hezbollah leader, along with other senior commanders, Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Hezbollah did not immediately confirm whether Aqil, who is also wanted by the U.S. government for his role in abducting Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s, was killed in the strike. The rare airstrike on Lebanon’s capital left 14 people dead and destroyed two buildings, Lebanese health and civil defense officials said, escalating a days-long Israeli assault on Hezbollah amid fears of all-out war. Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah vowed retaliation Thursday against Israel for detonations of electronic devices that killed at least 37 people this week and left thousands injured.

Aqil is a Hezbollah leader who sits on the group’s military council and has led Hezbollah’s Operations Unit for two decades, the IDF said. Hezbollah did not confirm that any of the group’s leaders were killed in Friday’s strike.

Aqil is also wanted by the U.S. government and has been designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.” The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program announced a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to the “identification, location, arrest, and/or conviction” of Aqil.

The State Department said Aqil was a “principal member” of the Hezbollah terrorist Islamic Jihad Organization that claimed the bombings of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in April 1983 that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps barracks bombing in October 1983, which killed 241 U.S. personnel. He also “directed” the abduction of American and German hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s, it added.



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/20/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/

---

I tried to use the archive link to get past the paywall but I could not get it to work.

[displacedvermoter]

1. They keep killing these "key" terrorist leaders,

and I guess eventually they will get the "most key" one.

[former9thward]

2. This one was behind the US embassy bombing and the Marine Corps bombing in 1983.

Death toll of 63 and 241 respectively. He was pretty "key". The State Dept had a $7 million reward on him, so they seem to agree.

[displacedvermoter]

3. Just saying they kill these folks pretty regularly

and others pop right up to take their place. Who will get the reward money, you think?

[maxsolomon]

5. Israel doesn't kill Hezbollah leaders "pretty regularly"

Maybe you're thinking of the US killing Al Qaeda's #2?

[displacedvermoter]

6. Who blew up the pagers?

Were these not leaders, or just plain low level folks?

[maxsolomon]

10. The pager/walkie talkie attacks were not "regular" occurences.

That word is UNPRECEDENTED. That attack was on Hezbollah members at all levels - leaders to foot soldiers.

When you say "regularly", I interpret that as going back years, decades. Prior to 10/7, how many Hezbollah leaders were "regularly" killed?

As hostilities have stepped up, so have targeted killings of commanders.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

19. Not only was it unprecedented...

…but it was brilliant.

Thousands of Hizbollah terrorists are walking around (if they’re lucky) missing eyeballs, hands, even testicles… and living in absolute terror of anything digital.

A fitting karmic payback for their rocket attacks on cities and civilians.

[displacedvermoter]

7. It was reported on August 29 that Israel killed

Mohamed Jaber, key leader of the Islamic jihad Tulkarm battalion. I can keep looking for more examples, just saying whoever is killing them, their replacements keep popping up, be it Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc.

[EX500rider]

8. Well of course what do you expect?

When an experience leader dies a less experienced man becomes the leader which is good for Israel

[displacedvermoter]

9. Ok, I guess that is one way to look at it.

Though others might view it as another in another ongoing battle of tit-for-tat that breeds more violence.

Again, another perspective.

[EX500rider]

11. Hezbollah definitely started this one firing thousands missiles across the border

[displacedvermoter]

12. It is an ongoing spiral of violence

And that is what I am saying.

[EX500rider]

13. Hezbollah leaves Israel alone, they leave them alone

Don't want no shit don't start no shit

[BrianTheEVGuy]

20. You're right

Israel should surrender and allow its population to be massacred instead.

Or maybe if they say “please, Mr Crazy Islamic Terrorist, could you not fire missiles at our cities?” That could work.

[Lancero]

24. On that note, maybe Ukraine should just surrender too. Fighting back against Russia just breeds more violence...

According to some peoples perspectives.

[displacedvermoter]

52. Not really the same thing, many historical snd

geopolitical differences, far different levels of US military support over decades, a very different situation entirely. But you know that.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

57. Funny

People keep missing that nuance. They cheer for Ukrainian missiles that blow up facilities in Russia and kill “innocent civilians” nearby… and they’re hardly loud in their condemnation of Hamas or Hizbollah when they kill kids with rocket attacks on cities.

It’s almost as though their concern is about something else

[iemanja]

16. There are always more to take their place

always

[former9thward]

22. So?

They will meet the same fate.

[iemanja]

23. There is not a finite supply of terrorists

It seems to me that the more war and violent ops are likely to produce more terrorists. How many do you think Abu Ghraib and the Iraq War created? Just because they haven't successfully struck in the US again doesn't mean they don't exist.

[former9thward]

25. What is the alternative?

Surrender? That is a pacifist argument. I am not a pacifist.

[iemanja]

26. A negotiated ceasefire and a two-state solution

Exactly what Harris is advocating. You know, I'm a Democrat, not a member of Likud.

[former9thward]

27. No one in the region supports that.

Neither the Israeli population nor the Gaza population supports a two-state solution.

[iemanja]

28. show me polling data to support your claim

No one, means zero people.

[former9thward]

30. Most people do not support a two state solution.

You win. Happy?

[iemanja]

31. I found a poll for you

Since you couldn't be bother to exert that small amount of effort.

[former9thward]

33. And I won the argument.

[iemanja]

35. You said no one

33% is not "no one." You won nothing. You couldn't even bother to look up evidence.

[former9thward]

37. I have been to Israel many times.

I don't need to see polls. I have also been to all of the surrounding areas several times.

[iemanja]

40. And somehow the fact that 34% of the population of Israel supports a two-state solution

escaped you. You seem to have missed a lot.

[former9thward]

44. Since you know so much how many times have you been to the region?

[iemanja]

47. None, I googled a poll

that said 34% of Israelis support a two-state solution. You said "no one." You visited the region yet never met a soul who supported a two-state solution, if we're to take you at your word.

I lived in Brazil and the UK. I don't claim to have absolute knowledge of those two countries and the views of their populations.

[former9thward]

49. Since you are tonight's grammar police I used a typical rhetorical device.

Very common on discussion boards. People will often say " no one" when they mean "most". People do it everyday in almost every thread on DU. People will say "no one supports Trump" even though a significant percent do support Trump. Yet, for some reason, I have never ever seen you objecting to those posts. Interesting that you decide to object when Israel comes up.

[iemanja]

51. Does anyone actually say "no one supports Trump"?

because that would be a supremely stupid thing to say given the plethora of polling data. I don't think I've ever seen it.

Just choose words that mean what you want to convey. It's not that difficult.

[EX500rider]

54. " the fact that 34% of the population" Also known as a minority

[iemanja]

29. I'll save you the trouble

You're wrong.

33% of Palestinian respondents support a two-state solution and 34% of Israelis, so more than "no one." That is down from the previous result of 43%. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230730-new-poll-shows-decline-in-support-for-two-state-solution-amongst-palestinians-israelis/

The numbers have dropped with protracted conflict.

[former9thward]

32. By my math that means it is a political non-starter.

So I am correct that it will not happen, despite the technical language police who are out tonight.

[iemanja]

34. Clearly that is what you want

It is not what Harris and the Democratic party want. They want peace, while you think the solution is what?

[former9thward]

36. Harris and the Democratic party are not in charge in Israel or Gaza.

Harris has not said what specifically what she wants.

[iemanja]

38. You haven't paid attention

At the debate and in her interview with CNN she said she supported a negotiated ceasefire and a two state solution. You haven't said what your solution is. You obviously don't want peace. So what's the alternative?

[former9thward]

43. Every president and I do mean every president since 1948 has said a two state solution.

That is not original. And all have failed. All. The alternative is a no state solution. Egypt used to own Gaza. Let them have it back. Jordan used to own most of the West Bank. Let them have it back.

[iemanja]

45. I don't object to that

I think Jordan and Egypt do though, if I'm not mistaken.

[former9thward]

46. They created the problem, they can have it back.

[cab67]

58. To me, at least...

Last edited Sat Sep 21, 2024, 01:14 PM - Edit history (1)

...whether the majority of Israelis want a two-state solution is irrelevant.

We can maintain the status quo, with millions of Palestinian Arabs living under occupation and denied full participation as Israeli citizens. (Or Israel can formally annex Gaza and the West Bank, which would shift the demographics of Israel to the point that it would hard for the country to declare itself both a democracy and a Jewish state. This assumes that Israel is unwilling to expel large numbers of civilians from those territories; I suspect the majority of Israeli people would oppose this, but I can't say that about the present Israeli government.)

Or a two-state solution can be found.

In no way do I think this is an easy thing to do. I fully understand the culpability of Hamas in the present situation, that there are groups in the region that want Israel itself destroyed, and that a large proportion of the Israeli population within the UN-recognized borders is uninterested in a two-state solution. But a two-state solution should still be the ultimate goal from the standpoint of human rights.

[LeftInTX]

39. Hezbollah has nothing to do with a two state solution. They're a Lebanese proxy for Iran.

They're main goal is to turn Lebanon into another Iran. (Lebanon is mandated to have a Christians, Sunni's, Druze and Shia's in a certain proportion of the government. So, I don't think they're having much luck with that)

Hezbollah started in 1982 to fight Israel in Lebanon, but a two state solution will not do anything about Hezbollah. They have been a major influence on Hamas, but they are not based on Gaza. They have infiltrated the West Bank, but they are based on Lebanon.

They blew up the US Marine barracks in 1982.

I think they mainly just want to terrorize Israel at this point.

[iemanja]

41. Well, they claim they are fighting in response to Gaza

whether that's the case, I can't say. As herculean as it is, settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would go a long way to restoring peace in the region with other elements as well, don't you think? I realize I'm speaking hypothetically here.

[LeftInTX]

48. They say, but it's not their motive. They want to destroy their neighbor because.....

This has been going on forever.

Gaza is just a cover for their activities. Prior to Oct 7th, the Palestinians in Lebanon had the worst treatment of all Palestinians. They are stuck in camps where they are denied medical care. Lebanon does not want them there because they are Sunnis.

[iemanja]

50. Okay

That sucks for the Palestinians. Everything sucks for Palestinians.

[LeftInTX]

53. Yes, it does.

OTOH: They started the original Middle East terrorism in the 1960's.

Sirhan Sirhan (who is Christian by the way) shot Bobby Kennedy in retaliation.

The first terrorist group was mixed Christian and Muslim with Christian leadership. Eventually they became Islamic groups.


In 1989, Sirhan told British journalist David Frost: "My only connection with Robert Kennedy was his sole support of Israel and his deliberate attempt to send those 50 fighter jets to Israel to obviously do harm to the Palestinians."[3] Some scholars believe that the assassination was the first major incident of political violence in the United States stemming from the Israeli–Palestinian conflict (Sirhan carried out the attack on the first anniversary of the 1967 Arab–Israeli War), though it occurred at a time when the American public was overwhelmingly focused on the Vietnam War.[4]

A motive cited for Sirhan's actions is the Middle East conflict.[39] After his arrest, Sirhan said, "I can explain it. I did it for my country."[39] Sirhan believed that he was deliberately betrayed by Kennedy's support for Israel in the June 1967 Six-Day War,[40] which had begun exactly one year before the date of the assassination. During a search of Sirhan's apartment after his arrest, a spiral-bound notebook was found containing a diary entry that demonstrated that his anger had gradually fixated on Kennedy, who had promised to send 50 fighter jets to Israel if elected president. Sirhan's journal entry of May 18, 1968, read: "My determination to eliminate R.F.K. is becoming the more and more [sic] of an unshakable obsession...Kennedy must die before June 5th."[39] They found other notebooks and diary entries expressing his growing rage at Kennedy; his journals also contained many aphorisms that were thought to be his version of "free writing". He wrote in support of communism: "Long live Communism... I firmly support the communist cause and its people... American capitalism will fall and give way to the worker's dictatorship."[41]

___________

The six day war was a war of hubris which was started by Egypt. (The Suez Canal also was part of it) Egypt with Arab allies of Jordan and Syria was expected to win. Egypt had this and that. However, Israel hustled and beat the pants out of them. That's when the real problems with the Palestinians started. Prior to that there was issues, but they were mostly local and consisted of guerilla tactics on both sides. The big problem had always been Egypt versus Israel. When Israel won that war, suddenly land that was part of Jordan and Egypt came under Israel's control. Egypt refused to sign a peace treaty, so Israel kept the land, but didn't know what do with the Palestinians.

[EX500rider]

67. "Well, they claim they are fighting in response to Gaza"

Hezbollah started firing rockets across into Israel on Oct 8th, a day after the Hamas massacre of Israeli's, so not in response to Israel but in accordance with Hamas

[oldsoftie]

55. But there IS a finite supply of competent leaders; even if they're terrorists.

The average pissed off guy with a gun isnt a leader
And the more "top guys" that get taken out, the more SOME of the lower level people will have 2nd thoughts about getting "promoted"

[Oopsie Daisy]

59. Well, try not to get too exited over this positive news. 🙄

[emulatorloo]

64. See post #14

[Tetrachloride]

4. they keep saying....

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. Good, this is the asshole who planned and executed the Marine barracks bombing in '83

that killed many of my buddies, AFAIC, this POS can rest in piss for eternity.
Great job Israel.

[wnylib]

15. My cousin was stationed in Beirut. He was deployed

elsewhere shortly before that attack. Just missed being one of the casualties of the bombing.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

18. I was stationed in Germany at the time.

I'm so glad your cousin missed it, there but for the grace of god go I.

[BrianTheEVGuy]

17. Rest in pieces, Ibrahim. NT

[MarineCombatEngineer]

21. ....

[LeftInTX]

42. Good one!

[Tarc]

56. Good

That is all.

[onandup]

60. That was 40 years ago

I don't think many people are buying that as the principle reason.

[former9thward]

61. The principle reason was that he was the Hezbollah military commander.

But I don't care what the principle reason was. I am glad he is dead however long it took.

[onandup]

62. The principle reason is to save Trump, er, Bibi from prosecution

and possibly start a wider war.

[former9thward]

63. Hezbollah started the war.

I guess you missed that news.

[EX500rider]

65. Or possibly Israel would like 60,000 Israeli refugees to be able to return to their homes..

...after almost a year, after thousands of Hezbollah rockets are fired at them

[MarineCombatEngineer]

66. Absolutely wrong,

the principle reason is to disrupt their C&C by taking out senior terrorist commanders and create chaos within the terrorist high command.

Good fucking riddance to a fucking terrorist and those other terrorists who were killed with him.