The attack that took place on Friday in Beirut, which killed senior members of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, along with Ibrahim Aqil, head of Hezbollah’s operations section, is part of a new wave of attacks in Lebanon. Each strike employed specialized intelligence and revealed previously unknown operational capabilities. This isn’t just operational excellence—it marks the beginning of a completely new campaign.
The bottom line is that we’re now in a new phase. The increasing frequency of blows that Israel delivers to Hezbollah aims to achieve the objectives of war without triggering an all-out regional conflict. It’s crucial to act decisively before such a war escalates. However, these strikes may further escalate the campaign against Hezbollah, increasing the risk of full-scale war before Hezbollah agrees to our ceasefire terms.
After the assassination of Fuad Shukr, two senior commanders remained at the top of Hezbollah: Ali Karaki, the commander of the Southern Command, who is now leading the military campaign against Israel following Shukr’s death, and Ibrahim Aqil, who was responsible for operations and the architect of the idea of an extensive raid into Israeli territory. Aqil undoubtedly one of Hezbollah’s most senior commanders, leaves Nasrallah’s operational hive nearly empty. While Hezbollah can replace personnel, in the short term, its fighting capabilities are significantly undermined.
The death of Ibrahim Aqil, reportedly killed along with his assistants, disrupts Hezbollah’s combat capability, although it’s not decisive. It’s a severe blow, but Hezbollah will likely retaliate, bringing us closer than ever to an all-out war. Tactical successes do not guarantee overall victory. To secure that, the campaign must be part of a broader strategic plan. Much remains unknown, and it’s hoped that our leaders will conduct the campaign responsibly, avoiding conflicts that spiral out of control, as such escalation could negate the advantage of the initial surprise strikes.
>> This article was first published last Friday on the N12 website.
The attack that took place on Friday in Beirut, which killed senior members of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, along with Ibrahim Aqil, head of Hezbollah’s operations section, is part of a new wave of attacks in Lebanon. Each strike employed specialized intelligence and revealed previously unknown operational capabilities. This isn’t just operational excellence—it marks the beginning of a completely new campaign.
The bottom line is that we’re now in a new phase. The increasing frequency of blows that Israel delivers to Hezbollah aims to achieve the objectives of war without triggering an all-out regional conflict. It’s crucial to act decisively before such a war escalates. However, these strikes may further escalate the campaign against Hezbollah, increasing the risk of full-scale war before Hezbollah agrees to our ceasefire terms.
After the assassination of Fuad Shukr, two senior commanders remained at the top of Hezbollah: Ali Karaki, the commander of the Southern Command, who is now leading the military campaign against Israel following Shukr’s death, and Ibrahim Aqil, who was responsible for operations and the architect of the idea of an extensive raid into Israeli territory. Aqil undoubtedly one of Hezbollah’s most senior commanders, leaves Nasrallah’s operational hive nearly empty. While Hezbollah can replace personnel, in the short term, its fighting capabilities are significantly undermined.
The death of Ibrahim Aqil, reportedly killed along with his assistants, disrupts Hezbollah’s combat capability, although it’s not decisive. It’s a severe blow, but Hezbollah will likely retaliate, bringing us closer than ever to an all-out war. Tactical successes do not guarantee overall victory. To secure that, the campaign must be part of a broader strategic plan. Much remains unknown, and it’s hoped that our leaders will conduct the campaign responsibly, avoiding conflicts that spiral out of control, as such escalation could negate the advantage of the initial surprise strikes.
>> This article was first published last Friday on the N12 website.