Hezbollah announced that Hashem Safieddine, widely viewed as the successor to the group’s ex-leader Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The announcement follows Israel’s claim that Safieddine was killed along with other Hezbollah leaders in a strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs three weeks ago.
Hezbollah Mourns Safieddine
The Iran-backed group expressed its grief over the death of Hashem Safieddine, who served as the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council. In a statement, they described his killing as a result of “a criminal and aggressive Zionist raid” and confirmed that he died alongside other fighters.
Safieddine’s Role in Hezbollah
Safieddine, known for his religious leadership and family ties to Nasrallah, was considered the most likely candidate to lead the group after Nasrallah’s assassination on September 27. He was also a key figure in Hezbollah’s governing Shura Council and had strong connections to Iran, having studied in the Islamic republic’s holy city of Qom.
International Designations
In 2017, both the United States and Saudi Arabia designated Safieddine as a terrorist, adding him to their respective watchlists due to his significant role in Hezbollah.