Hezbollah Media Chief Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Beirut

Head of Hezbollah's media relations, Mohammed Afif was reported by the Times of Israel as being killed by an Israeli airstrike at the headquarters of the Syrian Ba'ath Party in central Beirut on Sunday. Hezbollah confirmed the death but the Zionist regime is yet to officially acknowledge the strike or the assassination of Afif.

Beirut Airstrike: Israeli Attack Targets Hezbollah Media Chief

Afif was involved in orchestrating Hezbollah's media presence. He had managed operations in Al-Manar, the Hezbollah television network, before becoming the group's chief media officer. He had been a doyen of hosting press conferences and disseminating information about Israeli attacks, having greatly influenced the public narrative developed by Hezbollah. He had maintained recently that Hezbollah has become prepared for a "long war" with Israel while emphasizing the large arsenal the group has.

The assassination thus records another powerful blow to Hezbollah's leadership after Israel had earlier assassinated the head of the Shiite group, Hassan Nasrallah. There are indications that Israel has been stepping up efforts to assassinate top Hezbollah leaders as part of a comprehensive strategy to weaken the Lebanon-based militant organization.
The strike on Afif happens as tensions between Hezbollah and Israel escalate. Less than two weeks ago, a Hezbollah drone attacked the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea. The drone failed to breach the reinforced glass windows, but it served as an obvious warning against growing threats to leadership in Israel.

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A pair of flares were thrown into the courtyard of the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. Netanyahu and his family were away at the time, but Israeli authorities arrested three suspects Sunday in connection with the attack. These incidents reflect the volatile nature of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, where both sides have continued to commit violent acts with more aggression. The assassination of Afif might heighten the situation further since Hezbollah retaliates for what it views as targeted attacks against its leadership.