The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has announced that it has neutralized Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif in an airstrike at the Lebanese capital Beirut.
The Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a statement by Hezbollah, that Afif was killed in an airstrike on an office building in central Beirut on Sunday, Nov. 17. The IDF likewise confirmed his death in a statement, noting that he "wielded significant influence over Hezbollah's military operations" and "glorified and incited" attacks on Israel.
"Afif, who ran Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station for years before taking over as the group's spokesman, delivered regular press conferences from the bombed-out ruins of Beirut's Dahiyeh neighborhood following the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. He also issued a statement taking responsibility for a drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence the following month," Russia Today (RT) wrote.
RT also pointed out that the IDF did not issue an advance notice for the strike on central Beirut. The strike took place near a busy intersection, and an AP reporter who happened to be on the scene counted at least four bodies in the street – including that of Afif's. Fourteen people, including two children, were also wounded in the strike.
Also on Sunday, Israel carried out separate strikes on the Dahiyeh neighborhood, a traditional stronghold of Hezbollah. In contrast with the earlier strike in central Beirut that killed Afif, Israeli forces issued an evacuation order before this second attack. According to RT, the IDF claims to have hit at least 50 Hezbollah sites in the area over the last week.
No signs of de-escalation
One witness, Suheil Halabi, recounted the aftermath of the strike to AP: "I was asleep and awoke from the sound of the strike, and people screaming, and cars and gunfire." Firefighters then struggled to control the resulting blaze in Beirut's Mar Elias neighborhood. Meanwhile, bystanders recounted hearing a second explosion and seeing a nearby car getting hit.
The strikes by Israel happened as Lebanese officials were mulling a ceasefire proposal led by the United States. Faisal Al Sayegh, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, remarked: "This confirms the crimes of the Israeli enemy, and that it wants to negotiate under fire."
The lawmaker added that based on its recent attacks, Tel Aviv "is expanding and targeting safe and safer areas." (Related: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly agreed to a ceasefire before he was ASSASSINATED by Israeli military in Beirut.)
On the one hand, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health claims IDF airstrikes have killed more than 3,400 people in the country since the strikes began in September.
The IDF, meanwhile, has confirmed the deaths of nearly 50 Israeli soldiers who participated in its ground offensive against Lebanon. Hezbollah claims that the actual count is higher, however.
Lina Sinjab, Middle East correspondent for the BBC, commented that the latest development raised concern that Israel was expanding attacks beyond Hezbollah military officials.
"That is really sending alarm to people – that there are no signs of de-escalating this situation or finding a solution, but rather further escalation and widening Israeli targets against Hezbollah in Lebanon," she said.
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Watch Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif's last press conference held on Nov. 11, six days before his death in an IDF airstrike.
This video is from the FreePalestineTV channel on Brighteon.com.
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