Spotlight on Hezbollah’s Ibrahim Aqil as reports about his killing float. He is the 2nd in command of Hezbollah and heads the elite Radwan Force. ‘Aqil was targeted in Beirut as he was holding a meeting of Radwan’. However, Hezbollah has now said Aqil is ‘fine’ & in ‘good health’.
US listed him as Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2019 and offered a bounty. Like most senior Hezbollah military officials, Aqil has been a shadowy figure. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, he was ‘responsible for attacks outside Lebanon’. Aqil was Born in Beqaa Valley, he was hurt in the recent pager blasts & but survived. He carries a $7 million bounty on his head for 1983 Beirut truck blasts.
The two bombings had killed over 300 at the US embassy & army barracks. US also accused him of a role in the abduction of Americans & Germans. Hezbollah chief Nasrallah in a 2022 interview: 2 blasts not linked to us. Aqil’s bounty— set by US—was higher than the slain Hezbollah military chief. Slain Faud Shukr carried a bounty of $5 million on his head. Aqil was born around 1960, He had first joined the other big political group, Amal. He moved to Hezbollah became one of its founding members.
Aqil's cohort of founding cadre turned Hezbollah from a shadowy militia. He & others played a key role in pushing Israel out of Lebanon in 2000.