The brother of the man accused of carrying out an attack on a synagogue in Michigan had been a Hezbollah commander who was killed in an Israeli air strike last week, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Police say Ayman Muhammad Ghazali died after driving a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday. Authorities say the 41-year-old later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with police. Don’t miss the latest headlines from Thailand and around the world. Get the Asean Now Briefing newsletter, delivered daily. Sign up here. The IDF said one of Ghazali’s brothers, Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali, had served as a commander within Hezbollah’s Badr Unit. The BBC has not independently verified the claim and has contacted US authorities for comment. Israeli military identifies brotherIn a statement posted on social media, the Israeli military described Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali as a Hezbollah commander responsible for weapons operations. The IDF said he oversaw activities linked to the launch of rockets toward Israeli targets during the conflict and was killed in an Israeli Air Force strike on a Hezbollah military site in Lebanon last week. Sources in Lebanon also told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that two brothers killed in the same strike had been members of a Hezbollah rocket unit operating in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is a political and military organisation based in Lebanon that is backed by Iran. It is designated as a terrorist group by Israel and several other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Attack on Michigan synagogueAuthorities have not yet determined a clear motive for the attack on Temple Israel. Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 2011 and lived in Dearborn Heights, reportedly lost several family members overseas in recent months. Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun said the suspect had suffered “devastating and personal losses overseas” but emphasised that this did not justify the attack. Investigators say Ghazali drove a vehicle containing explosives into the synagogue grounds before a gun battle with police. Investigation continuesThe FBI said Ghazali died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the confrontation. Officials said the vehicle used in the attack contained large quantities of commercial-grade fireworks and containers of flammable liquid, which ignited during the incident. No worshippers or students at the synagogue and its associated school were injured. A security guard was wounded but is expected to recover, while around 30 police officers were treated for smoke inhalation. The FBI has described the incident as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said antisemitism was at a “historic high” and urged public figures to be careful with their rhetoric. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 15.March 2026
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