Hezbollah confirms death of media head after Israeli strike

Hit in Beirut a rare case of targeting senior official without clear military role in group

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Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Nov 17.

Israel has rarely hit senior Hezbollah personnel who do not have clear military roles, and its air strikes have mostly targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, where the group has its heaviest presence.

Israel's military, which earlier declined to comment, issued a statement late on Nov 17 reporting it had "eliminated" Mr Afif.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said the strike had killed one and injured three.

A second, separate strike later on Nov 17 hit Mar Elias street, another central area rarely targeted by Israeli bombs, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said that strike killed at least two people and wounded 22.

Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire for more than a year, since the group began launching rockets at Israeli military targets on Oct 8, 2023.