Mohammed Afif, the spokesperson for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Sunday. Afif, who served as a close adviser to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and had managed the group’s media relations since 2014, was described by Hezbollah as a “great media leader” in an official statement.
The strike targeted the pro-Hezbollah Baath Party headquarters in Ras al-Nabaa, a central Beirut district. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, four people were killed in the attack. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility, stating it was a "precise, intelligence-based strike" aimed at eliminating Afif, whom they labeled a "chief propagandist" for Hezbollah.
In response, the Palestinian militant group Hamas expressed condolences to Afif's family and Hezbollah, describing him as a "strong voice of resistance." Later that evening, another Israeli airstrike hit the Mar Elias neighborhood of Beirut, killing at least two people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Afif was one of Hezbollah’s prominent public figures, often appearing at news conferences in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a region frequently targeted by Israeli strikes since the latest escalation began on October 1. His death comes as Hezbollah reviews a U.S.-Israeli ceasefire proposal submitted to the Lebanese government. It is unclear how Afif’s killing might influence these ongoing negotiations.
The incident marks a significant escalation in Israel's offensive in Lebanon. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, recently announced an expansion of ground operations in southern Lebanon, with IDF artillery now firing from positions within Lebanese territory for the first time. The military spokesperson stated that this strategy aims to support ground maneuvers by increasing the intensity of shelling on combat zones.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage on multiple fronts. In northern Gaza, Israeli strikes on Beit Lahiya killed at least 50 people, including civilians displaced by earlier fighting. Local reports described scenes of chaos and destruction, with families removing bodies from the rubble amid ongoing strikes.
In central Gaza, the al-Bureij area was also heavily bombarded, resulting in 23 deaths. The IDF stated its operations target Hamas military infrastructure, despite significant civilian casualties. Since the renewed offensive in Gaza began, Israeli military losses have also been reported, with 20 soldiers killed, including four in recent days.
As Israel intensifies its operations in both Gaza and southern Lebanon, the IDF has issued renewed evacuation warnings for residents of Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut. Airstrikes have targeted six Hezbollah military sites in the southern suburbs of the city. The escalating conflict and the targeting of high-ranking figures like Afif indicate a heightened phase of military confrontation, complicating the prospects of a ceasefire agreement.
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