Israel Eliminates Hezbollah's Chief Spokesperson Mohammed Afif In Central Beirut Strikes

Last Updated:November 18, 2024, 07:50 IST

Israel's strike in central Beirut is a rare one as the IDF has been bombing city's southern suburbs since the beginning of war.

Hezbollah's chief spokesman Mohammed Afif (Photo: AP)

Hezbollah’s chief spokesperson Mohammed Afif, who was “directly involved" in executing terror activities in Israel, was eliminated in a rare strike by the Israeli defence forces in central Beirut in Lebanon on Sunday, the IDF said on Monday.

Israel has been striking southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold in the Lebanese capital, since all-out war broke out between the two countries on September 23 this year, however, there have been rare attacks in the central part of the city, which took place on Sunday.

Two strikes in central Beirut killed six people on Sunday in total.

Afif was killed in a strike on the Arab socialist Baath party’s office in Beirut, Hezbollah made the confirmation in a statement. He appeared frequently in the media after the full-fledged war broke out between Israel and Hezbollah in September.

What Did IDF Say?

The IDF, in a post on X, said that Afif’s messages incited terror activities against Israel and he was responsible for “psychological terror operations" against Israeli citizens.

“Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel. Messages broadcasted by Afif to the Lebanese media glorified and incited terrorist activities against Israel, and he was responsible for numerous psychological terror operations against the Israeli public," the IDF said.

“Afif’s impact on the terrorist organization proves that he was directly involved in Hezbollah’s terrorist activity against the State of Israel," it added.

Afif’s killing was the latest targetted killing of a senior Hezbollah member. The IDF had previously eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, the militant group’s chief, in September, triggering massive chaos in the Middle East and raising the chances of an all-out war in the region.

Israel has also bombed several buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where there is the headquarters of Hezbollah, after warning people to evacuate.

Beirut, Lebanon

News world Israel Eliminates Hezbollah's Chief Spokesperson Mohammed Afif In Central Beirut Strikes