An IDF spokesperson verified that an aerial attack on a vehicle in Sidon on Wednesday eliminated Khalil al-Maqdah, a top-ranking member of Fatah and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Lebanon. The target was identified as the sibling of a high-level operative in the Lebanese arm of the terror group, which is known to support Iranian objectives on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force.
Lebanese media captured footage of the black car in which al-Maqdah was traveling. Following the strike, which was attributed to Israel, firefighters were seen at the location working to extinguish flames that continued to burn for some time after the attack.
In a statement to the Lebanese network Al Mayadeen, Munir al-Maqdah said his eliminated brother held a rank equivalent to brigadier general in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. "These killings only reinforce our resolve, and martyrdom is a badge of honor. Our resistance will remain unwavering on the ground," he declared.
Information surfaced in March revealing that Munir, the brother of the eliminated target, was actively promoting terror attacks in the West Bank. A resident of Lebanon's Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp, he is known to operate on behalf of Iran and Hezbollah. Reports at the time indicated he was recruiting operatives in the area to facilitate smuggling operations and carry out attacks.
Makdah was the brother of Munir al-Makdah, a senior terrorist who works for the Iranian axis to remotely direct attacks in the West Bank and smuggle weapons.
The two operate jointly in service of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. According to the IDF and Shin Bet announcement, Khalil al-Makdah, who was eliminated, was a resident of Lebanon and, based on existing intelligence, worked in service of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. He worked with the Iranian Quds Force, the foreign operations branch of the Revolutionary Guards.
At the head of these Iranian entities stands Javad Rafari, head of Department 4000, the special operations department of the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organization, as well as Asar Bakeri, commander of Unit 840, the special operations unit in the Quds Force.
