In a significant escalation of hostilities, Hezbollah media relations official Mohammed Afif was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, targeting a building in the Ras al-Nabaa area of central Beirut. The strike, which also hit the Lebanese branch of the Syrian Baath Party, resulted in one death and several injuries, according to local reports.
A Lebanese security source confirmed that Afif, who had been a prominent spokesperson for the Iran-backed militant group, died in the attack. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the strike hit an area near the French embassy and a university, causing significant destruction. At least three people were reported injured, and local authorities are still working to remove debris from the site.
Afif’s death is the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations of Hezbollah officials since Israel began intensifying its bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon in late September. This escalation follows a year-long period of cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah amid the ongoing conflict over the Gaza war.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the strike, but the attack comes just weeks after a similar Israeli operation that killed several Hezbollah leaders, including a high-ranking member tipped as a potential successor to Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was also killed in an Israeli strike in September.
Afif had been a key figure in Hezbollah’s media operations for years, providing crucial information to both local and international media outlets, often under the cover of anonymity. His role became especially prominent during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war when he served as the information director for the group’s Al-Manar television channel. Since then, he had been a constant presence in press conferences, including one last month where he defiantly announced a drone attack targeting the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During that press conference, as Israeli warnings of a nearby strike interrupted the event, Afif famously remarked, “Bombardments have not scared us, so how would threats?” His fearless stance had made him a recognizable figure in Hezbollah’s leadership, and his death marks a significant loss for the group.
Hezbollah officials have long been targeted in Israeli strikes, with Afif’s death adding to the growing list of casualties within the organization. The Israeli government views Hezbollah as a significant threat, particularly due to its strong ties with Iran and its military capabilities along the border.
The Lebanese health ministry has yet to provide an official final death toll, but reports indicate that several individuals remain trapped under the rubble in Ras al-Nabaa. Local media also noted that one resident of a nearby building had received an evacuation warning prior to the strike, though it was not heeded.
As tensions continue to rise between Israel and Hezbollah, the latest attack is expected to further escalate the volatile situation in Lebanon and the broader Middle East region.
Sources By Agencies
