November 12, 2024
By Nasser Kandil
• Time and again, Hezbollah’s Media Relations Officer, Mohammad Afif, demonstrates the courage of the resistance media, mirroring the bravery of the fighters crafting epic tales on the battlefield. With a presence that exudes defiance, Afif chose to appear at the Sayyed al-Shuhada Complex, where Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has often addressed his supporters, particularly on Martyrs’ Day, which Afif marked this year as “the first Martyrs’ Day of Nasrallah”.
• Afif skillfully fills political and media voids left by Sayyed Nasrallah’s absence. Due to strict security measures, Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem cannot make frequent appearances, so Afif steps in, tackling political issues, countering media narratives, dispelling misconceptions, and debunking fabricated stories. Contributions by both boost the morale of the resistance’s supporters, leaving a distinct mark on this war as a symbol of strength and presence.
• In his recent remarks, Afif subtly acknowledged Russia’s openness to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, signalling that Hezbollah is similarly open to such movements as long as the entity adheres to its terms and limits. Yet, he clarified that there is no movement against the resistance between Moscow and Washington, countering rumors of a U.S.-Russian deal centred on Ukraine that includes agreement on Syria at the resistance’s and Iran’s expense.
• Afif also praised the Lebanese Army while sidestepping the presidential debate regarding the army commander, reiterating Hezbollah’s position: no political discourse until the aggression ceases. He affirmed the army as a national institution and a trusted ally of the resistance, dismissing attempts to create a rift between them as the work of historical enemies of both the army and Hezbollah.
• Afif’s response to Israeli claims of a dwindling missile stockpile was aptly framed as a rhetorical question: how could stockpiles be depleting if launch volumes are escalating? The most fitting answer to talk of missiles, he said, comes from the missiles themselves.
• Loyal and devoted to the resistance and its leader, Mohammad Afif exemplifies how to conduct a truthful media battle based on facts, not mere propaganda or wishful thinking, contrasting with the occupier’s media war. As such, he stands as a testament to the resistance’s superiority over the occupier.
