Barran Press
On November 17, 2024, Lebanese sources confirmed the death of Muhammad Afif, the media relations officer for Hezbollah, following an Israeli airstrike on the central command headquarters of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in the Ra's al-Naba area of Beirut.
Ali Higazi, the Secretary-General of the Ba'ath Party in Lebanon, confirmed the targeting of Afif, stating that he was present in the building by chance at the time of the strike. He described the incident as part of the "ongoing threats against us," according to Al-Hurra.
Cassem Hashem, a member of the Development and Liberation bloc, remarked that the entire Lebanese political landscape is now within the crosshairs of Israeli operations, emphasizing that Israel's actions represent a violation of international law and humanitarian principles.
According to Al-Hurra, the Israeli military conducted this airstrike in Ra's al-Naba for the first time, and they are currently reviewing the details of the incident, with further announcements expected.
Muhammad Afif was a notable figure within Hezbollah and had a background in engineering, holding a degree from King Saud University. He was among 50 Lebanese students who received scholarships from Saudi Arabia during a visit by the Shiite leader Musa al-Sadr in 1976.
Afif played a key role in managing Hezbollah’s media coverage during the July 2006 war and took charge of the media relations unit in 2014 after the party’s Shura Council established organizational decisions for media-related institutions.
Before 2014, he served as a media advisor to former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah and managed news and political programming for Al-Manar, the party's television channel, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
As a founding member of Hezbollah, Afif began his work with the organization in 1983 and has been involved in its pivotal historical moments for over 40 years. He was also a close friend of former Secretary-General Abbas al-Musawi, who was assassinated by Israel in 1992.
Afif emerged as a spokesperson for Hezbollah after the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, holding three press conferences, the latest of which was on November 11, where he asserted that the group’s weapon stockpile was sufficient for a prolonged conflict.
Ra's al-Naba is known for its sectarian diversity, housing several churches and mosques. The Ba'ath Party established its central command headquarters there on Muhammad Al-Hout Street in the 1970s.
Since September 23, Israel has expanded its military operations throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, conducting airstrikes targeting various Hezbollah leaders, including the group's top officials.
The ongoing Israeli aggression has reportedly resulted in 3,452 fatalities and 14,664 injuries, including many women and children, along with approximately 1.4 million displaced persons, according to the Anadolu Agency.