Hezbollah Media Chief Mohammed Afif Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Beirut

Hezbollah's media relations chief, Mohammed Afif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, on Sunday. Hezbollah has confirmed Afif's death.

The strike targeted the headquarters of the Syrian Ba'ath Party in central Beirut, where Afif was reportedly present. Despite the news of his death, Israel has not yet confirmed the killing.

Mohammed Afif was a significant figure in Hezbollah, known for hosting numerous press conferences to provide updates on Israeli airstrikes. He also led Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station for several years before taking on the role of the group's top media relations officer. Recently, Afif had emphasized that Hezbollah was equipped with sufficient weapons to sustain a prolonged conflict with Israel.

This incident is part of Israel's ongoing efforts to target key members of Hezbollah's leadership. In a previous incident, Israel had killed Hassan Nasrallah, a prominent Hezbollah leader, leading to the appointment of Hashem Safieddine as the new head of the group.

On the same day as the strike in Beirut, three individuals were arrested for allegedly throwing flares at the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Who Was Mohammed Afif? Mohammed Afif was a senior figure in Hezbollah, known for his involvement in the group's military and media operations. According to reports, Afif was connected with high-ranking officials and played a key role in advancing Hezbollah’s activities against Israel. He joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and was considered a significant influence in shaping the group's military strategy.

Afif was in charge of news and political programming for Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV. He played a crucial role during the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese war, overseeing media coverage and managing propaganda efforts. He directed operatives to capture footage from conflict zones to be used in Hezbollah's psychological operations and propaganda campaigns.

He was known for using the Lebanese media to broadcast messages that both praised and encouraged acts against Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) held him responsible for numerous psychological tactics aimed at intimidating the Israeli public, highlighting his direct involvement in Hezbollah's activities.

Reports of Afif’s death came amidst other incidents, including an attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. On the same day, three individuals were detained for allegedly throwing flares at the Prime Minister's home. A prior incident involving a Hezbollah drone attack on Netanyahu's private residence occurred in October.

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