Martyr Mohammad Afif: From Leading Hezbollah’s Media Jihad to Frontline Combat
Mehr News Agency, International desk: Martyr Mohammad Affif Al-Nabulsi was a leading figure in Hezbollah’s media jihad. Known as Hajj mohammad Affif, he was one of the resistance’s media commanders from the earliest stages of confrontation with the Zionist enemy in 1982 and a founding member of Hezbollah’s media system.
Belonging to the generation that established Hezbollah in Lebanon,he began his media work within the party in 1982. He drafted the first statement regarding Ahmad qasir’s martyrdom operation on November 11, 1982, reportedly by the roadside.
Martyr Affif maintained close friendships with former Hezbollah Secretaries-General Sayyed Abbas Al-Mousawi and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
He had strong connections with these key leaders who previously headed Hezbollah.
Affif managed news and political programming at Al-Manar Network, affiliated with Hezbollah. The self-reliant noted that his role during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm became prominent when he addressed press conferences from southern Beirut’s Dahieh district about battlefield conditions, insisting that Hezbollah was victorious in this war.
this influential position prompted the Zionist regime to assassinate this senior hezbollah media official despite international power dynamics. Though not involved directly on frontlines and regarded purely as a civilian executive without clandestine activities or movement restrictions, he became their target for assassination.
Sheikh Sadiq al-Nabulsi, brother of Martyr mohammad Affif, said at his funeral that Mohammad always remained at the heart of battle fully aware of confronting intense conflict. He abandoned all worldly distractions to take up arms against the enemy.
The deputy to Martyr Nasrallah in managing media warfare
During Israel’s 33-day war in 2006, Martyr Affif also managed news and political programs for Al-Manar Network and participated extensively throughout its coverage-even as Israeli forces targeted its headquarters located in Harik neighborhood of southern Beirut’s Dahieh district.
In addition to serving as Deputy Media director under Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as 2014, he was appointed head of Hezbollah Public Relations that year.
Throughout his career combining militant struggle and media leadership roles, he directed messaging aimed specifically at public audiences. He oversaw psychological warfare efforts against Israel while shaping political strategy statements within Hezbollah-and clarifying facts essential for sustaining resistance-especially during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm and following attempts on Martyred Hassan Nasrallah’s life.
Defending ties with Iran during final press conference
The last press conference held by Martyr Nabulsi took place on November 11th, 2024. There he stressed the ample reserve weapons for long-term resistance operations ahead.Ultimately assassinated on November 17th, 2024 during an Israeli airstrike targeting a building near Ras al-Naba’a area in Lebanon’s capital Beirut-this attack killed four people including one woman-and wounded fourteen others including two children.
Durning that conference he praised Hezbollah’s remarkable relationship with Iran, stating: “Our bond with Iran is higher than your tongues can harm.”
A statement issued by Lebanon’s Hezbollah following his martyrdom described him as “a great commander within our media ranks” and “a monumental martyr who sacrificed himself for Jerusalem.” It added: “hajj Mohammad has joined comrades along this path-including her beloved heart-a spiritual father figure secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”
Martyed affectionately insisted upon courageous media presence countering Israel’s propaganda machine-often repeating: “When enemy bombing did not intimidate us how could their threats ever frighten us?”
Zionist regime official view regarding Martyr Nabulsi
Avichay Adraee-spokesman for Israel Defense Forces-described him as “Head of propaganda unit and spokesperson for Hizbullah.” Despite relentless aggression by Israel against lebanon throughout years-long conflict -affording repeated telephone contact between them-the fearless caretaker never severed interaction lines making it easier subsequently for tracking down him culminating murder operation.
Thus-from assassinaton standpoint-the Zionists gained no strategic advantage but rather registered it among crimes committed targeting journalists worldwide.
Adraee labeled Hajj Mohammed an integral operative heavily influencing military activity inside Hizbullah working hand-in-hand sustained dialog overseeing planning & coordination alongside senior officials dealing loss prevention protocols covering wartime operational security strategies .
