Mohammed Afif
Mohammed Afif was one of the prominent media figures of Hezbollah Lebanon, a founding member of the party, and the media advisor to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah. He was martyred on Sunday, November 17, due to an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. This attack targeted a densely populated area that was sheltering many refugees. This crime has attracted significant international attention due to its wide-ranging implications.
Joining Hezbollah
Mohammed Afif joined Hezbollah in 1983 and was considered one of the founding generation members of the group. From the very beginning, he played an effective role in the party's structure and gradually became one of the key figures in the organization. In 2014, he was appointed as the head of media relations for Hezbollah, where he played an important role in transmitting messages and coordinating the party's media presence both domestically and internationally, especially during critical times and conflicts with Israel.
Activities
Al-Manar Network
Before taking on the role of media relations head, Mohammed Afif worked at Al-Manar, Hezbollah's official media channel, as the head of the news and political programming department. In this role, he oversaw the development and implementation of media strategies aimed primarily at strengthening the party's discourse and supporting its political positions.
Close Relationships with Hezbollah Leaders
Mohammed Afif had a close relationship with the main leaders of Hezbollah. He was a media advisor to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and was also close to Sayyed Abbas Mousavi, the party's former Secretary-General. These close relationships solidified his position as one of the influential figures within the party.
Key Role in Hezbollah's Media
Mohammed Afif was one of the most prominent media figures within Hezbollah's structure. He was able to create an extensive network of media communications and utilized his expertise to promote the party's ideology and defend its positions in various forums. This event, given Afif's position in Hezbollah and his media role, may have wide-ranging implications in international relations and regional developments.
Martyrdom
Ultimately, he was martyred on Sunday, November 17, as a result of an Israeli airstrike in the Ra’s al-Naba’ area of Beirut.
Reactions
Hezbollah Lebanon's Statement
Hezbollah Lebanon issued a statement announcing that Mohammed Afif al-Nablsi, the party's information official, achieved martyrdom during the recent atrocities of the Zionists. Accordingly, Hezbollah congratulated the martyrdom of this steadfast fighter in the cause of resistance ideals, proclaiming Afif as a prominent martyr. The statement reads: "We offer our condolences to the resistance community, the media of the resistance, and the families of the martyrs and fighters after the martyrdom of a prominent media figure and martyr for the cause of Quds, 'Haj Mohammed Afif al-Nablsi', the media relations official of Hezbollah, following the criminal attack by the Zionist regime after an honorable path in the fields of jihad and media activities of the resistance. The memory of the martyrs will never fade, and the Zionist enemy will pay a heavy price for its crimes."
Message from the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran
The text of the condolence message from Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is as follows: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And do not think that those who are killed in the way of Allah are dead; rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision." [Aal-Imran 169].
Amid the genocidal crimes of the Zionist regime and the horrific slaughter of committed journalists and media personnel worldwide in this unequal war of this criminal band against the defenseless people of Palestine and Lebanon, once again, a media activist has attained the blessing of martyrdom. Mohammed Afif, the spokesperson of the people's resistance of Lebanon, bravely participated in the battlefields and raised the voice of the strength and victimhood of the resistance and the Lebanese people. I extend my congratulations and condolences on the martyrdom of the great resistance fighter, Shahid Mohammed Afif, and commemorate the memory of other media martyrs as it is certain that with the active presence of free-thinking media activists, his path and mission will continue to shine brightly."