Israel Strike in Central Beirut Hits Syrian Party Office, Killing Hezbollah Media Chief

The metro area around Beirut, particularly the southern suburbs, has been the focus of Israeli near-daily strikes for weeks now. Today, an Israeli airstrike hit central Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, in the Ras al-Nabaa District.

The strike targeted a building belonging to the Syria Ba’ath Party, the ruling party of Syria, and killed at least five. Among the slain was Mohammad Afif, Hezbollah’s media relations chief. The other casualties have yet to be identified.

Syrian Ba’ath Secretary General for Lebanon, Ali Hijazi, confirmed the killing of Afif. He added that Afif was not a combatant, and was only the head of Hezbollah’s media unit. He was at the party building for a meeting at the time of the attack.

The strike reportedly damaged a large number of cars, in addition to nearly destroying the building. It also caused considerable panic as the area is near many important landmarks as well as the French Embassy. Israel has not previously attacked this district in its ever-escalating war.

Israel has ramped up its attacks on Lebanon since late September and launched a ground invasion in early October that continues to move deeper and deeper into southern Lebanon.

There are active international efforts to try to negotiate a ceasefire in Lebanon, though Israeli officials insist there will be no ceasefire. Israel reportedly demands that any deal leave it free to strike Lebanon after a ceasefire begins, a condition unlikely to be accepted by Lebanon.