Politics

Israel Confirms Killing of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah’s Successor Hashem Safieddine

Hashem Safieddine, the leader of Hezbollah’s Executive Council and Hassan Nasrallah’s presumed successor, was killed three weeks ago in an Israeli airstrike on a suburb in southern Beirut, Israel’s military said Tuesday. Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence directorate, and several other senior commanders were also killed in the attack, which targeted the organization’s stronghold in Dahiyeh.

In a statement verifying the attack, the Israeli army said that more than 25 Hezbollah terrorists were involved, including Bilal Saib Aish, a crucial person in aerial intelligence collection. This announcement followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier this month speech in which he alluded to the removal of senior Hezbollah leaders, though he did not directly mention Safieddine.

Safieddine, a prominent Hezbollah preacher with close ties to Iran and a relative of Nasrallah, had not spoken to him since the Israeli attacks on Beirut. He was the “most likely” successor to Nasrallah, according to sources; therefore, his passing dealt a serious blow to Hezbollah’s leadership. According to Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military has now “reached Nasrallah, his replacement, and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership,” making this a crucial time.

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Hezbollah has not yet responded to Israel’s allegations with an official statement. Given that Hezbollah has maintained a grip on Lebanon with Iranian support, the situation further exacerbates regional tensions.