Hezbollah Media Chief Killed In Israeli Strike In Beirut.
The head of Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammed Afif, has been confirmed dead following an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut. The Lebanese militant group disclosed his death on Sunday evening, hours after reports of the strike first emerged.
The attack targeted the headquarters of the Lebanese branch of the Syrian Baath Party in the densely populated Ras al-Naba neighbourhood, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The strike left significant destruction, with four people confirmed dead and 14 others injured, as per the country’s health ministry.
Afif was a prominent public figure for Hezbollah and had recently addressed the media in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the group is based. His death marks another blow to the organisation, which has seen an escalation in Israeli attacks on its infrastructure.
The airstrike caused extensive damage to the Baath Party’s headquarters, a known ally of Hezbollah. The building, located at a central intersection in Beirut, connects key parts of the city, including the road leading to the airport. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to free individuals trapped under the rubble.
Later on Sunday, a second airstrike targeted Mar Elias Street in central Beirut, killing two more people and injuring 13. Images from the scene showed firefighters battling flames amidst the devastation.
These developments come amid an intensified Israeli military campaign in Beirut, which has broadened its targets beyond Hezbollah’s military operations. BBC Middle East correspondent Lina Sinjab noted growing concerns over the escalation, stating, “There are no signs of de-escalating this situation or finding a solution, but rather further escalation and widening Israeli targets against Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) previously confirmed strikes on six Hezbollah military targets in southern Beirut earlier in the day. This follows a series of offensives launched in late September, which included the killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior officials.
As the conflict deepens, more than 3,400 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon since the hostilities intensified, with over 2,600 deaths occurring after Israel’s intensified air campaign began. An estimated 1.2 million people have also been displaced amidst the escalating violence.
Credits: BBC , Reuters.
