Israeli strike kills ‘Hezbollah spokesperson’ in Beirut

An Israeli strike on a building in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, has reportedly killed Mohammad Afif, spokesperson for the Hezbollah militant group.

Although Hezbollah is yet to speak on the development, Al-Jadeed, Lebanese broadcaster, reported that Afif was in the building when the attack happened.

The broadcaster aired footage of a building whose upper floors had collapsed onto the first storey, with civil defence workers at the scene.

Lebanese security sources also confirmed to Reuters that the Sunday attack killed the Hezbollah media relations head.

The Lebanese health ministry said one person died in the strike and three were injured.

The Israeli military has also not commented on Afif’s reported elimination. Still, if confirmed, he would be the latest senior Hezbollah figure to have been targeted amid Israel’s intensified focus on the group.

Afif was a long-time media advisor to Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s former leader who was killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut on September 27.

Afif managed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television station for several years before taking over the Iran-backed group’s media relations office.

Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire for over a year since the group began launching rockets at Israeli military targets after Hamas, its Palestinian ally, carried out a surprise attack on the Jewish nation.

In September, Israel dramatically escalated and expanded its military campaign in Lebanon, heavily bombing parts of the country including the southern suburbs of Beirut alongside ground incursions along the border.

The increased pressure on Hezbollah has raised concerns from world leaders about a wider prolonged war in the Middle East.