An Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut killed Hezbollah’s media relations chief on Sunday – the latest blow to the terror group as bombardments intensified in the Lebanese capital, officials say.
Mohammad Afif, a former advisor to slain Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, was killed when an Israeli airstrike collapsed a building in the densely populated Ras al-Nabaa neighborhood, according to Lebanese security sources.
Images of the aftermath show the upper floors of the building completely collapsed, with Ali Hijazi, the head of Lebanon’s Ba’ath Party, confirming that Afif was in the building when it was hit.
The head of Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammad Afif, attends a media gathering protesting against Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, in Beirut, Lebanon, October 14, 2024. REUTERS
People and rescuers gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a building that according to security sources killed Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammad Afif. REUTERSAfif was a long-time media advisor who managed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television station for several years before taking over the Iran-backed terror group’s media relations office.
The media chief hosted several press conferences for journalists in Beirut and southern Lebanon to show the destruction of the capital amid Israel’s military campaign.
Afif last spoke with reporters on Nov. 11, touting that Israeli troops could not keep a foothold in southern Lebanon and that Hezbollah had enough weapons and supplies to fight a “long war.”
Although Afif is only the latest high-ranking member of Hezbollah to be killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, his death is an outlier. He is one of relatively few administrative members of the group to be targeted by Israel. Most strikes have been aimed at Hezbollah’s military wing.
Sunday’s strike was also a rare attack directed at the heart of Beirut where many refugees were taking shelter from Israel’s bombardments.
The Lebanese health ministry said the strike killed one person and injured three others.
People watch the rescuers work at the site. REUTERSUnlike previous airstrikes in the city, there were no evacuation orders published by the Israeli military prior to the attack.
Neither the Israeli military nor Hezbollah put out official statements on the deadly airstrike.
Israel has escalated its military campaign in Lebanon since September, with Beirut and its southern suburbs a constant target.
Israeli officials have said the airstrikes are meant to decimate Hezbollah’s leadership and command centers located in the capital.
With Post wires
