Hezbollah’s media relations chief, Mohammed Afif, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting central Beirut, according to Lebanese security sources.
The strike, which hit the Ras al-Nabaa area near Sodeco Square, marks a rare incident in the heart of the Lebanese capital, outside Hezbollah’s usual strongholds.
The building struck housed the headquarters of the Lebanese branch of Syria’s ruling Baath Party and an apartment accommodating displaced individuals. Israeli army radio confirmed that Afif was the intended target of the attack.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported one confirmed death and three injuries, with rescue teams still clearing rubble.
Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes in Ras al-Nabaa, with residents fleeing the neighbourhood.
An Associated Press photographer documented at least four fatalities and multiple injuries at the site.
The strike came without prior warning from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), a departure from the standard practice during such operations.
A Lebanese security source told AFP that Afif had been present in the Baath Party office at the time of the attack, but his exact condition remains unclear.
This is the first airstrike in central Beirut in weeks, following a series of targeted attacks elsewhere in the city, including Cola, Bashoura, and Basta. Previous strikes have reportedly targeted Palestinian officials and Hezbollah members, including senior figure Wafiq Safa.
There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military about the strike. However, tensions remain high amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides trading accusations and intensifying military actions.
