(Corrects reference to political get together in paragraph 4. The get together is the Syrian Social Nationalist Social gathering, not the Ba’ath Social gathering)
BEIRUT (Reuters) -An Israeli strike on a constructing in a densely populated district of Beirut on Sunday killed Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammad Afif, two Lebanese safety sources informed Reuters, although there was no instant affirmation from Hezbollah.
The Israeli navy declined to remark in response to questions from Reuters. There was no evacuation order for the realm printed on the Israeli navy spokesperson’s account on social media platform X earlier than the strike.
The strike hit the Ras al-Nabaa neighborhood the place many individuals displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs by the Israeli bombardment had been in search of refuge.
The safety sources mentioned it struck a constructing the place places of work of the Syrian Social Nationalist Social gathering are situated, and the top of the get together in Lebanon, Ali Hijazi, informed Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed that Afif was within the constructing.
The broadcaster later additionally mentioned Afif had been killed. It confirmed footage of a constructing whose higher flooring had collapsed onto the primary storey, with civil defence employees on the scene.
Afif was a long-time media advisor to Hezbollah’s former secretary normal Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air assault on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sept. 27.
He managed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar tv station for a number of years earlier than taking on the Iran-backed group’s media relations workplace.
Hezbollah and Israel have been buying and selling hearth for greater than a 12 months, since Hezbollah started launching rockets at Israeli navy targets on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas carried out a lethal assault on southern Israel.
In late September, Israel dramatically escalated and expanded its navy marketing campaign in Lebanon, closely bombing the nation’s south, east and the southern suburbs of Beirut alongside floor incursions alongside the border.
Afif hosted a number of press conferences for journalists amid the rubble within the southern suburbs of the capital. In his most up-to-date feedback to reporters on Nov. 11, he mentioned Israeli troops had been unable to occupy any territory in Lebanon and Hezbollah had sufficient weapons and provides to combat a “lengthy battle”.
The Lebanese well being ministry mentioned the strike killed one and injured three.
Ambulances might be heard dashing to the scene, and bursts of gunfire rang out to forestall crowds of individuals from approaching the placement.
