Israeli airstrike in Beirut kills top Hezbollah commander

The Israeli army carried out a "targeted attack in Beirut." Residents of the Lebanese capital reported a strong explosion and the appearance of smoke in the city. According to the Ici Beyrouth portal, an important Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Akil, was killed in the attack.

The Israeli defence forces reported on the X portal that they "carried out a targeted attack in Beirut." No further details were provided.

The Ici Beyrouth portal reported that Ibrahim Akil, commander of the special forces Radwan, a member of the Jihad Council, the most important military organ of the terrorist group Hezbollah, was killed in the attack.

The United States offered a €6.9 million reward for information on Akil. He was wanted for his involvement in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, as well as for directing the operation of taking American and German hostages in Lebanon in the 1980s, the Times of Israel portal recalled.

Hezbollah reported that the strike was aimed at the southern suburbs, considered the stronghold of this Iranian-funded terrorist organisation - reported the Reuters agency.

Israeli media reported that the air force shelled the building where a meeting between Hezbollah and Hamas was supposed to take place with two rockets, just after Hezbollah took responsibility for shelling northern Israel with 140 rockets.

The Lebanese Minister of Health reported that at least three people were killed and 17 people were injured. The rescue operation is ongoing.

"We have entered a new phase of the war. We continue to make every effort to free the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, but we must also ensure the safe return of northern residents to their homes soon. That is where our resources are focused," commented an Israeli official to Ynet portal journalists after the attack.

The Chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, Gen. Herzi Halevi, approved the war plan for the northern front - the army reported on Thursday. The military announced that the shelling of targets in southern Lebanon believed to be associated with Hezbollah, had already begun.

"The IDF will not tolerate terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. We have been responding to these attacks with precise strikes on Hezbollah commanders, terror operatives and military infrastructure in Lebanon," the army said in a statement.

"Hezbollah’s ongoing aggression and brutal attacks are dragging the people of Lebanon and the entire Middle East into a wider escalation. While we prefer to resolve hostilities without a wider war, the IDF is fully prepared for any scenario," the army emphasised in a statement published on the X service.