An Israeli strike on a building in a densely populated area of Beirut killed Hezbollah’s press office chief Mohammad Afif, Lebanese security sources said.
There was no immediate confirmation of the fatal strike from Hezbollah, while the Israeli military declined to comment on questions from Reuters.
However, no order to evacuate the area had been made public on the account of an Israeli army representative on Platform X before the strike.
The raid hit the Ras al-Nambaa neighborhood where many displaced people from Beirut’s southern suburbs sought refuge due to Israeli shelling.
Security sources said a building housing the offices of the Syrian Baath Party was hit, and the party’s head in Lebanon, Ali Hijazi, told the Lebanese Al Jadeed network that Afif was in the building.
The television network reported that Afif was killed after showing footage of a building whose upper floors had collapsed onto the first floor, with civil protection workers at the scene.
Afif was a media adviser to former Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on September 27.
He ran Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV station for many years before taking over the organization’s press office.
Afif had held several press conferences for journalists amid ruins in the capital’s southern suburbs. In his most recent comments to reporters on November 11, he said that Israeli troops had not been able to capture Lebanese territory and that Hezbollah had enough weapons and supplies for a “long war.”
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health announced that one person was killed and three others were injured.
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The region. This complicates the narrative, as it raises questions about Israel’s overall strategy and objectives in the area. It also heightens the risk of escalating conflict, as it can be interpreted as an attack on multiple groups aligned with Iran.
Tell us more about Mohammad Afif and his role in Hezbollah. How significant was his killing in the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah?
Guest 1: Mohammad Afif was a high-ranking official in Hezbollah and held the position of their press office chief. He was very close to former Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, serving as his media adviser for many years. Afif was known for his fierce support of Hezbollah’s military activities and was often seen as one of the group’s most outspoken and influential figures. His killing is significant because it comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. There have been exchanges of fire along the border and accusations of espionage, so this strike could be seen as an escalation by Israel. It also removes a key voice from within Hezbollah who was vocal about the group’s stance on the conflict with Israel.
Guest 2: Yes, I completely agree. The killing of Mohammad Afif sends a strong message from Israel, both to Hezbollah and the international community. It’s unclear if this was intended as a message to deter further conflict or simply aimed at dismantling the group’s leadership. What’s clear is that this event will have repercussions, particularly within Lebanon where there is already political instability. The strike also raises questions about civilian casualties, as the building housing the press office was in a densely populated area.
Moving on, the article mentions that the Israeli military did not confirm the attack and the Syrian Baath Party’s office was also hit. How does this complicate the situation? Do you think Israel was targeting Hezbollah or was it a mistake?
Guest 1: The lack of official confirmation from Israel makes it difficult to determine their intentions. However, it’s worth noting that the strike occurred in a predominantly Shia Muslim neighborhood where Hezbollah has strong support. The fact that the Syrian Baath Party’s office was also hit suggests that the target may have been broader than just Afif. It’s possible that Israel was trying to target Hezbollah as well as other Iran-backed militias operating in
