ALBAWABA - The Israeli army spokeswoman claimed, “The Israeli army is now striking Beirut. No modifications have been made to Home Front Command guidelines.”
Al-Jazeera's Beirut reporter said that the attack occurred near the Al-Qaim Mosque in southern Beirut's Al-Jamous area.
Israel's Channel 12 said that the hit targeted a key Hezbollah figure in Beirut's southern suburbs. Israeli media first believed Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, was the target. Israeli military sources subsequently stated that Ibrahim Aqil, Hezbollah's special operations leader, was the target.
After the Ibrahim Aqil murder attempt failed, an Israeli insider told "Ynet" that Israel is entering “a new phase in the conflict” and would seek Hezbollah leadership. The insider stressed that "all options are on the table" for future operations.
Medical sources informed Al-Jazeera that the Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut left multiple casualties, including five children who were killed. The total number of injured remains unclear. Hezbollah has yet to release any details regarding the fate of the targeted leader, Ibrahim Aqil.
According to "Yedioth Ahronoth," the attack also targeted top Hezbollah Radwan Unit members who planned Galilee capture operations. Israel sought to murder Aqil before its 2000 departure from Lebanon.
The Lebanese official news agency said that an F-35 fighter launched two missiles into a southern Beirut flat in the Israeli raid. According to Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, the assault killed youngsters. After the attack, the Lebanese News Agency verified five child fatalities.
After Israeli operations against Hezbollah and its supporters, this happened. Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in a southern Beirut attack on July 30. Hamas commander Saleh Al-Arouri was murdered in a drone attack on a Hezbollah base in the city earlier this year.
According to Channel 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his US trip by 24 hours due to the growing crisis.
