Draft:Ibrahim Aqil
| Ibrahim Aqil | |
|---|---|
 | |
| name | Ibrahim Aqil |
| Personal details | |
| religion | Islam |
Ibrahim Muhammad Aqil, known by his kunyas "Hajj Tahsin" and "Hajj Abd al-Qadir", was one of the founders of Hezbollah, its number-two figure after Fuad Shukr, and a commander of the Hezbollah Radwan Unit. He was martyred on Friday evening, 21 September 2024 (corresponding to 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH), in an Israeli airstrike carried out by an F-35 aircraft on an apartment in the al-Jamous neighborhood of Dahieh, southern Beirut, alongside several other Hezbollah commanders, including Ahmad Wahbi. His roles included commanding the Hezbollah special forces known as the Radwan Unit, heading the Special Military Operations Directorate of Hezbollah, enhancing Hezbollah's military capabilities, and overseeing the development of its missile systems. He played a prominent role in the 33-Day War in Lebanon and was instrumental in forging ties among the axes of resistance, particularly between Hezbollah and Hamas, in their conflict with the Zionist regime.
Biography
Ibrahim Aqil was born on 24 December 1962 in the town of Bodnai in the Beqaa Valley[1].
Militant Activities
One of the Founders of Hezbollah
Ibrahim Aqil belonged to the first generation of militants whose political and military identity was shaped by the struggle against the Zionist regime and its occupation of southern Lebanon. He had a long history of militant and organizational activities and was regarded as one of the founders of Hezbollah, having participated in formulating its strategic doctrines against Israel. Since Hezbollah's establishment in the early 1980s, he took part in all of the group's operations and was one of the eight members of Hezbollah's Jihad Council. After Fuad Shukr, he was considered the second-highest-ranking commander within Hezbollah.
Role in the 33-Day Lebanon War
Aqil played highly significant roles during the 33-Day War in Lebanon. In this conflict, Hezbollah succeeded in challenging the Israeli military by employing complex military tactics and leveraging asymmetric warfare capabilities[2].
Prominent Role in Building Hezbollah's Military Capabilities
As one of Hezbollah's principal commanders during the war, Hajj Tahsin played a crucial role in designing and executing Hezbollah's successful tactics. Since joining Hezbollah, he held a central position in shaping and developing the group's military capabilities. He also participated in forming key Hezbollah military units and commanded many of them. Furthermore, Aqil was the architect of Hezbollah's military tactics against the Zionist regime. Another highly significant aspect of his role was overseeing the development of Hezbollah's missile systems and military equipment, which transformed the group into a major military force in Lebanon. It is well known that Aqil assumed field command of Hezbollah's battles against the Zionist regime's army and was among the commanders who carried out special operations against Zionist regime positions and forces allied with it in southern Lebanon.
Views on Israel
Ibrahim Aqil held a strategic perspective regarding the struggle against the Zionist regime. He believed that war against the Zionist regime was an essential necessity and an undeniable requirement to counter its expansionism and aggressions. In his military approach, he maintained that a balance must be struck between missile capabilities and conventional warfare. This belief enabled him to exert considerable influence on the development of Hezbollah's defensive and offensive strategies. He was also a key member of Islamic Jihad, an organization affiliated with Hezbollah at the time, which claimed responsibility for the April 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, which killed 63 Americans, as well as the October 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks, which resulted in the deaths of 241 American servicemen[3].
Role in Strengthening Ties Among Axes of Resistance
Hajj Abd al-Qadir played a highly important role in strengthening relations among the various factions of the Axis of Resistance, particularly between Hezbollah and Hamas. By maintaining contact with military commanders of other resistance groups, he actively facilitated military coordination among them. Commanders such as Ibrahim Aqil, who played key roles in numerous military operations of the organization, not only contributed to enhancing Hezbollah's military capabilities but also played a vital role in preserving and expanding the group's influence in Lebanon and the broader region[4].
Designation as a Terrorist
On 21 July 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Aqil under Executive Order 13582 for acting on behalf of Hezbollah, adding him to its list of terrorists. On 10 September 2019, the U.S. Department of State identified him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224. Subsequently, a reward of $7 million was offered for information leading to his capture or death[5].
Martyrdom
Ibrahim Aqil was martyred on the afternoon of Friday, September 21, 2024 (corresponding to 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH), as a result of a missile strike by the Zionist regime using an F-35 aircraft on an apartment in the Al-Jamous area of the Southern Suburb of Beirut. He was killed alongside several commanders and members of Hezbollah, including Ahmad Wahbi. From the initial moments, media outlets of this regime acknowledged that the target of the attack on the Beirut suburb was Ibrahim Aqil, commander of the special forces and senior commanders of the Radwan Force, as well as the commanders who designed the operation to liberate the Galilee. Ultimately, Hezbollah issued a statement confirming the martyrdom of this commander.
Reactions
Reaction of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran reacted to the martyrdom of "Ibrahim Aqil," one of the senior jihadist commanders of Hezbollah, following the terrorist act by the Zionist regime, by publishing excerpts from the statements of the Great Founder of the Islamic Revolution regarding the issue of resistance. Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, this high-ranking diplomat of the Islamic Republic of Iran, wrote on the social media platform X: "Whenever a flag falls from the capable hands of a commander, another commander will pick it up and enter the battlefield" (Imam Khomeini). In this tweet, he used two hashtags: "Ibrahim Aqil" and "Escalation of Tensions"[6].
Hezbollah (Lebanon)
The statement by Hezbollah regarding the martyrdom of the mujahid commander "Hajj Ibrahim Aqil" is as follows:
The great jihadist leader, Hajj Ibrahim Aqil (Hajj Abd al-Qadir), today, after a life of struggle, joined his martyred brothers. This great mujahid, throughout his blessed life, was always engaged in jihad and sacrifice; despite dangers and challenges, he achieved enduring accomplishments and victories, always worthy of receiving this lofty divine status. Jerusalem was always in his heart, thoughts, and mind; he believed deeply in the cause of Holy Quds, and praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque was his greatest wish. It is a source of pride that today the Islamic Resistance offers one of its great commanders as a martyr "on the path to Quds". We pledge to his pure soul that, God willing, we will remain faithful to his goals, ideals, and path, which lead to victory. We offer condolences and congratulations on this calamity to the presence of the Lord of the Age (may God hasten his reappearance), Ayatollah Khamenei, to all mujahideen and fighters of the resistance in all arenas, and to the believers. We ask God Almighty to grant beautiful patience and great reward to the honorable family of this martyr and the families of the other martyred brothers of this great commander, and we beseech Him to gather this martyr with the Messenger of God and his pure household, and to join him to the caravan of the martyrs of Karbala[7].
Hamas
The statement by Hamas regarding this matter states: The martyrdom of Ibrahim Aqil, a great commander on the path to Quds and in the heroic battle of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, alongside other brothers in the Axis of Resistance, once again emphasizes the unity of destiny and the path of resistance. The Hamas Movement, expressing sincere condolences to the family of this martyred commander of the Lebanese Resistance, the leadership of Hezbollah, and the entire Lebanese nation, emphasized: We deeply appreciate these great sacrifices by the mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon and their insistence on continuing support and aid to the people of Palestine, who are subjected to the savage crimes of the criminal Zionist neo-Nazis. The statement further added: This crime by the occupying regime was a folly for which the enemy will pay the price; the blood of Martyr Ibrahim Aqil and other martyrs of the Islamic Ummah and our nation, shed on the path to Quds, will be like a flame that will engulf this fake and fabricated regime[8].
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ A Look at the Life of Martyr "Ibrahim Aqil", Full of Jihad and Resistance, Tasnim News Agency.
- ↑ Who Was Martyr Ibrahim Aqil?, Al-Alam Network.
- ↑ "Ibrahim Aqil"; Who Was the Senior Hezbollah Commander?, Entekhab News Agency.
- ↑ Who Was Martyr Ibrahim Aqil?, Tabnak.
- ↑ "Ibrahim Aqil"; Who Was the Senior Hezbollah Commander?, Entekhab News Agency.
- ↑ Araghchi's Twitter reaction to the martyrdom of "Ibrahim Aqil", ISNA.
- ↑ Hezbollah confirms the martyrdom of Ibrahim Aqil, Al-Alam Network.
- ↑ Hamas: The enemy will pay the price for the blood of Martyr "Ibrahim Aqil". Tasnim News Agency.
Sources
- A look at the life full of jihad and resistance of Martyr "Ibrahim Aqil", Tasnim News Agency, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.
- Who was Martyr Ibrahim Aqil?, Al-Alam Network, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.
- Who was Martyr Ibrahim Aqil?, Tabnak, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.
- "Ibrahim Aqil"; who was the senior commander of Hezbollah?, Entekhab News Agency, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.
- Araghchi's Twitter reaction to the martyrdom of "Ibrahim Aqil", ISNA, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.
- Hamas: The enemy will pay the price for the blood of Martyr "Ibrahim Aqil". Tasnim News Agency, date of publication: 31 Shahrivar 1403 SH, date of access: 1 Mehr 1403 SH.