Ibrahim Aqil, killed by an airstrike in Beirut (Lebanon), was a Hezbollah fighter. His name is linked to the two attacks against American and French forces in 1983. The explosion of the “Drakkar” building left 58 dead.
The Americans were looking for him. An Israeli bombing of South Beirut killed him on Friday. The toll is 31 dead (including 16 Hezbollah militants) and 68 wounded. Ibrahim Aqil had become the leader of the Al-Radwan force which was preparing another raid in Galilee, similar to the one on October 7 near Gaza, the Israeli army explains, according to The Parisian.
Don’t be devastated
So what does the young fighter have to say about not being able to retire on time and dying in the collapse of the building where he was having a meeting? Bomb attacks in 1983:
– against US Embassy in April 1983: 63 dead
– against a US Marine barracks in October 1983 (241 dead)
– against the building called “Drakkar” on October 23, 1983, 58 French dead, soldiers of the 1st and 9th Parachute Hunter Regiments.
The collapsed building (photo right).
The tribute paid to the 58 soldiers at Les Invalides in October 1983.
The case of the Drakkar building is a little different. First, there was talk of a truck loaded with explosives hitting the building. Since this theory was not very solid, it was later thought that the Drakkar had been booby-trapped by Syrian troops who had previously set up camp there. Ibrahim Aqil’s responsibility has not been established, considers France24.
A targeted raid
The amusing anecdote is that the Hezbollah leaders killed during this raid decided to meet after abandoning the pagers (12 dead, 2,323 injured) and the walkie-talkies (25 dead, 608 injured), deemed too dangerous…
This Saturday, the death in this raid of Ahmed Mahmoud Wahbi, another Hezbollah commander, was announced.
