Mohammed Afif, the head of Hezbollah’s media, was killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike that struck the Lebanese Baath Party headquarters in central Beirut.
At least four individuals were killed in the strike, which targeted the Baath Party office in the crowded Ras al-Naba district, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
Although the victims’ identities have not been made public, the nation’s health ministry reported that 14 additional people were hurt in the attack in addition to the fatalities.
People trapped beneath the debris of the demolished building were quickly freed by rescue and civil defense services.
One of the few senior Hezbollah officials still in public, Afif is a well-known public personality. He was last seen on Monday, November 11, during a press conference in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a militant stronghold. Hours after the first reports appeared, Hezbollah subsequently verified his death.
The Baath Party headquarters, a crucial ally of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, was also severely damaged by the airstrike. There are worries that Israeli operations in the area may intensify further because the location is close to a prominent intersection that connects numerous important areas of the city.
Another Israeli strike occurred later on Sunday in the central Beirut neighborhood of Mar Elias, when flames erupted from the building struck.
This number was reported by the Lebanese health ministry; nevertheless, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not released any formal statements regarding the Mar Elias incident.
A growing Israeli campaign against Hezbollah, which has included several high-profile assaults on the organization’s leadership, includes the most recent airstrikes.
According to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was among the senior leaders killed by Israeli attacks in Beirut last month.
Following months of intense combat that started when Hamas launched attacks on Israel in October 2023, the escalation takes place amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since the violence intensified, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced, and the dead toll in Lebanon has topped 3,400.
The increasing number of civilian deaths and the possibility of the conflict spreading further have alarmed the international community.
Israel’s recent attacks, according to reports, target not just Hezbollah’s military facilities but also public and political individuals connected to the organization, indicating a larger plan to sabotage its activities.