In Lebanon, the spokesperson for Hezbollah, Mohammad Afif, was killed in an Israeli raid which targeted, this Sunday, November 17, the HQ of the Baath party, in the heart of Beirut. His death was confirmed by the head of the Lebanese branch of the Baath, Ali Hijazi, who was not in the building at the time of the raid.
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The Israeli raid targeted the Baath Party headquarters in Lebanonin Ras el-Nabih, in the heart of intramuros Beirut, reports our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh. This residential and commercial district is located 800 meters as the crow flies from the headquarters of the French embassy, not far from the old demarcation line which cut Beirut in two during the civil war.
The strike, heard throughout the capital, destroyed several floors of the targeted building and caused significant damage to neighboring buildings. Mohammad Afifwell known to the community of Lebanese and foreign journalists stationed in Lebanon, was one of the rare Hezbollah figures to still speak publicly on behalf of the Shiite party since the start of the open war with Israel on September 23. His death occurred in a very intense sequence of strikes Israeli forces since November 16 on Lebanon.
A man known for his outspokenness
Renowned for his outspokenness, this son of an eminent Shiite religious figure, Sheikh Afif Naboulsi, now deceased, was for a long time communications advisor to the historic leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, before occupying the position of head of media department, which serves as the party’s spokesperson.
Mohammad Afif gave his last press conference on November 11 in the heart of the southern suburbs of Beirut, now in ruins, in the presence of dozens of Lebanese and foreign journalists. From the assassination of Hassan Nasrallahin an Israeli strike at the end of September in the southern suburbs of Beirut, he held several press conferences in this stronghold of the movement.
He had cut short one of the last, after an evacuation order from the Israeli army, which announced that it was going to target a building in the area. It was also he who, during his penultimate press conference, claimed responsibility for Hezbollah in the drone attack targeting the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea.
The list grows for Hezbollah
Israel launched an intense bombing campaign in Lebanon targeting pro-Iranian Hezbollah on September 23 and launched a ground offensive against this movement in the south of the country on September 30. Strikes continue throughout Lebanon, as do ground operations in the south of the territory.
In recent weeks, several senior leaders of the Lebanese Shiite movement have been assassinated during Israeli bombings on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Among them, in addition to Hassan Nasrallah, was also Hachem Safieddine, once expected to succeed him, but killed in early October.
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