Israel has confirmed that an airstrike earlier this month in southern Beirut killed Hashem Safieddine, regarded as the likely successor to lead Hezbollah. The airstrike in Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold, also killed Ali Hussein Hazima, head of Hezbollah’s intelligence branch, reports The Guardian. The Israeli military made this announcement on Tuesday, marking the first official acknowledgment of Safieddine’s death. Hezbollah has yet to respond to Israel’s claim.
Safieddine, who led Hezbollah’s executive council, had reportedly been designated years ago as the successor to the group’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah. A cousin of Nasrallah, Safieddine was known for his charismatic leadership and significant role in shaping the organization’s political direction. The airstrike, conducted on October 3rd, severed communications with Safieddine, and efforts to rescue him were blocked.
With Safieddine’s death, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, is now the most senior remaining figure in the group. Over the past three months, Israeli forces have also killed most of Hezbollah’s senior military commanders, further weakening the group’s leadership. Israel claims that the Dahiyeh airstrike also killed 25 other Hezbollah officials.
Born in 1964, Safieddine was a founding member of Hezbollah and spent many years in Qom. The US and Saudi Arabia designated Safieddine a terrorist in 2017. Unlike Nasrallah, who remained in hiding for security reasons, Safieddine continued to make public appearances at political and religious events.
