Hezbollah confirmed the death of its media relations chief, Mohammad Afif, following an Israeli airstrike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday. This rare strike targeted Ras al-Nabaa, an area less frequently hit by Israeli forces. The Lebanese health ministry reported that the attack killed one person and injured three others.
Escalation of Violence
Israel’s military announced late Sunday that it had “eliminated” Afif, marking an unusual move as Israeli airstrikes generally target Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Hours after the strike, another attack hit Mar Elias street, killing at least two and wounding 22, according to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV.
The renewed violence comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with the conflict intensifying since October 2023. The clashes began after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel.
Rising Death Toll
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israel’s military campaign over the past year has killed 3,841 people and injured nearly 15,000. Hezbollah’s cross-border rocket fire has also resulted in dozens of Israeli casualties, including soldiers and civilians.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas has led to over 43,000 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian health officials.
Lebanese Army Casualties
The escalation has also impacted the Lebanese army. On Sunday, two soldiers were killed and two others injured when Israeli forces struck an army post in Al-Mari, a southern Lebanese town.
Targeting a Key Hezbollah Figure
The strike in Ras al-Nabaa, which claimed Afif’s life, also hit a building housing offices of Lebanon’s Ba’ath Party. Displaced residents from southern Beirut suburbs were sheltering in the neighborhood due to earlier Israeli bombardments.
Afif, a long-time aide to Hezbollah’s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, was known for his role in managing the group’s media relations. He had previously led Al-Manar, Hezbollah’s television network, and was instrumental in publicizing the group’s activities during conflicts.
Broader Implications
The violence in Beirut and along the Lebanon-Israel border highlights the expanding scope of the conflict. While Israeli officials describe their operations as defensive, the strikes have drawn criticism for their impact on civilians and infrastructure.
As tensions persist, the region braces for further escalation, with fears of the conflict spilling over into a broader confrontation.
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