Hezbollah spokesman killed in Israeli airstrike on Beirut

Hezbollah’s media chief, Mohammed Afif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in central Beirut. The strike targeted the headquarters of the Lebanese Baath Party in the Ras al-Naba neighborhood, causing significant destruction. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, four people died, and 14 were injured, though their identities were not disclosed. Afif, a prominent public figure of the group, was seen just days earlier giving a press conference in southern Beirut, Hezbollah’s base.

The Israeli airstrike destroyed much of the Baath Party’s headquarters, which has ties to the Syrian Baath Party, a longstanding ally of Hezbollah. Rescue teams rushed to aid victims trapped under the rubble. This strike comes amid rising concerns that Israel is expanding its attacks beyond Hezbollah’s military figures, targeting its political presence as well. BBC correspondent Lina Sinjab noted that this escalation signals a widening conflict with no clear end in sight.

Later on Sunday, another Israeli strike hit Mar Elias Street in central Beirut, killing two and injuring 13. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed strikes on six Hezbollah military targets in southern Beirut earlier that day. This comes after a series of airstrikes targeting top Hezbollah officials in late September, including the death of leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah has intensified, particularly after Hezbollah increased its rocket attacks in solidarity with Palestinians following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Since then, more than 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, with at least 2,600 deaths since Israel’s aerial and ground offensive began in September. Additionally, over 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon.