Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah leader in Lebanon’s capital

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An Israeli airstrike in Beirut claimed the life of Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammad Afif on Sunday, according to information from Lebanese security sources shared with Reuters.

🚨BREAKING: The head of Hezbollah's propaganda department, Mohammad Afif, was successfully eliminated by the Israeli Air Force.

This is HUGE. pic.twitter.com/QURPTEQuY6

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) November 17, 2024

The attack targeted a building housing Ba’ath Party offices in a densely populated district of the city. Ali Hijazi, who leads the Lebanese branch of the Ba’ath Party, confirmed to Al-Jadeed broadcaster that Afif was present in the building at the time of the strike.

When approached for comment, the Israeli military declined to respond to Reuters’ inquiries. Notably, no evacuation orders were issued on their official social media channels before the attack.

🚨🚨 Reuters: Strike outside the Dahiyeh in Beirut has killed Hezbollah's media relations office chief, Mohammad Afif pic.twitter.com/bVTtAWvc2J

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 17, 2024

This strike was particularly notable for its location in the Ras al-Naba’a neighborhood, marking a departure from typical Israeli operations that usually focus on Hezbollah strongholds in the predominantly Shia southern areas of Beirut, as reported by The Times of Israel.

The Ba’ath Party, known for its socialist and nationalist pan-Arab ideology, gained prominence during Saddam Hussein’s reign in Iraq. Today, Syrian leader Bashar Assad heads his country’s branch of the party.