Mohammed Afif, the spokesperson of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and a prominent media figure, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Sunday. Afif, who served as an adviser to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and managed the group’s media relations since 2014, was struck at the headquarters of the pro-Hezbollah Baath Party in the Ras al-Nabaa district. The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, left four people dead, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation, describing it as a “precise, intelligence-based strike” aimed at eliminating Afif, whom they labeled as a “chief propagandist” for Hezbollah. The strike was conducted without an evacuation warning, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
In a statement, Hezbollah called Afif a “great media leader,” and Palestinian militant group Hamas expressed condolences, hailing him as a “strong and defiant voice of resistance.”
Escalation in Beirut and Southern Lebanon
Sunday’s strike on Ras al-Nabaa was one of two attacks inside Beirut that day. Another strike hit Mar Elias, a densely populated Sunni-majority neighborhood, killing at least two people. These incidents mark the first strikes within Beirut’s city limits since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli forces have also intensified operations in southern Lebanon. Over the weekend, airstrikes in the Tyre district killed at least 11 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The IDF said its air operations are targeting Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and issued evacuation warnings for residents of Haret Hreik in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. The conflict has seen Israeli forces briefly advancing to the village of Chama, their deepest incursion into southern Lebanon in recent years, before withdrawing after clashes with Hezbollah fighters.
Gaza Under Siege
Simultaneously, the IDF has ramped up its military operations in Gaza. Strikes on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza on Sunday killed at least 50 people, many of whom were displaced civilians sheltering in the area. Eyewitnesses reported harrowing scenes of children trapped in rubble and families desperately trying to rescue loved ones in the absence of civil defense services.
In central Gaza, an Israeli strike on al-Bureij killed 23 people, according to local health officials. The IDF stated that its operations in Gaza aim to dismantle Hamas’ military infrastructure but stressed efforts to minimize civilian casualties. However, residents described a night of terror, with the sounds of children crying and screaming dominating the aftermath.
Diplomatic Efforts for Ceasefire
Amid the escalating violence, diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a ceasefire. The United States has proposed a ceasefire initiative to the Lebanese government, which Hezbollah is reportedly reviewing. It remains unclear how Afif’s death might influence these negotiations.
While the international community pushes for de-escalation, Israel has pledged to continue its operations in Lebanon and Gaza “as long as required” to neutralize perceived threats from Hezbollah and Hamas.
The region teeters on the edge of a broader conflict, with escalating violence raising fears of a prolonged and devastating confrontation.
(With inputs from reports)
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The Chenab Times News Desk
