Mohammad Afif
Mohammad Afif | |
|---|---|
| محمد عفيف | |
 Afif in 2024 | |
| Born | 1959 |
| Died | 17 November 2024 |
| Cause of death | Airstrike |
| Occupation | Spokesperson |
| Years active | 1983–2024 |
| Political party | Hezbollah |
| Spouse | Dalal Ali Diab |
Mohammad Afif (Arabic: محمد عفيف; 1959 – November 17, 2024) was a Lebanese spokesperson of Hezbollah and head of its media relations department. He was a founding member of the organization and was a close companion of Abbas al-Musawi.
Hezbollah activity
[edit]Muhammad Afif held the position of the first media consultant in the party, and according to the Lebanese media, he served as the media relations officer since 2014, replacing Hassan al-Laqqis. He was also responsible for the management of Hezbollah's media coverage during the 2006 Lebanon War. Afif previously managed news and political programs on Hezbollah's Al-Manar channel as well as on Al Nour Radio and the Al-Ahed.
War coverage
[edit]Afif has appeared as the party's spokesperson, and has held press conferences live from the heart of the Da'aheh district in Beirut, and in areas affected by IDF activity in Lebanon as part of Operation Northern Arrows.
He stated that Israel has not managed to capture "a single" village in Lebanon so far during the invasion, he also dismissed the IDF claim of a significant decline of Hezbollah's missile stockpile as "just lies".[1]
After the attack on Majdal Shams that killed 12 children, Afif said that the group was not responsible for the attack on Majdal Shams.[2][3] Instead stating it was caused by an Israeli Iron Dome projectile launched in the course of countering Hezbollah rocket fire aiming for Israeli military sites.[4]
On October 22, 2024, he held a press conference, which he had to interrupt live due to an evacuation notice issued by the IDF for the area where the press conference was held. At that press conference, Afif accepted responsibility on behalf of Hezbollah for attacking Binyamin Netanyahu's house in Caesarea several days earlier.[5]
Assassination
[edit]An Israeli strike on a building containing the headquarters of the Lebanese branch of the Ba'ath Party in Ras al-Nabaa neighborhood of Beirut Central District killed Afif.[6][7] A total of four people were killed, all of which were members of Hezbollah's media department, and 14 others were injured including two children in the strike.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Israel has not managed to occupy 'a single Lebanese village', says Hezbollah". Al Jazeera. 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Missile hit in Majdal Shams kills nine, injures at least 34 including children". Ynetnews. 27 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Sanchez, Raf; Clayton, Freddie (28 July 2024). "Fears that war will widen grow as Israel retaliates for a strike that killed 12". NBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Michaelson, Ruth (28 July 2024). "Israel strikes Lebanon as diplomats try to prevent regional war". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "محمد عفيف: غارتان إسرائيليتان على العاصمة بيروت، وحزب الله يؤكد مقتل المتحدث باسمه". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "Israeli strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah media head, security sources say". Reuters. 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Hezbollah media spokesman assassinated in Israeli strike: report". Tehran Times. 17 November 2024.
- ^ "IDF confirms killing Hezbollah media chief in Beirut strike: Involved in 'psychological terror'". The Times of Israel. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (18 November 2024). "Hezbollah says 4 members killed in IDF airstrike yesterday that targeted its media chief". Times of Israel.