The airstrike, which took place on Friday, targeted a building in the Hezbollah stronghold. Rescue and recovery efforts have been ongoing for a third day, as emergency workers continue to remove rubble from the site. Forensic teams are working to identify the bodies of the deceased.
Among the dead are several high-ranking members of Hezbollah, including senior commanders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmad Wehbi. In a statement on Friday, Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of their personnel, stating, "with utmost pride and honor, the martyrdom of its senior commander Ibrahim Aqil, 'Abdul Qader', and a group of his comrades." The group praised Aqil for his dedication to the cause of resistance, his lifelong commitment to Palestine, and his desire to pray in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli airstrike follows a series of escalations between Israel and Hezbollah. Earlier in the week, a separate attack involving the detonation of pagers and wireless devices in the same suburb resulted in the deaths of 37 people and injuries to nearly 3,000 others.
In retaliation for the airstrikes and in solidarity with the people of Gaza, Hezbollah launched an attack at dawn on Sunday targeting Israel's Ramat David airbase and the Rafael military-industrial complex. The group used Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 rockets in multiple operations, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The situation remains tense as further retaliatory actions are anticipated. (ILKHA)