Former Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah's 'Successor' Hashem Safieddine Eliminated In An Israeli Strike

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday (22 October) that Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah leader and apparent successor to the slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, was “eliminated” in an airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut.

The operation took place three weeks ago, according to the IDF statement.

“It can now be confirmed that in an attack approximately three weeks ago, Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, and Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of Hezbollah's Intelligence Directorate, were killed along with other Hezbollah commanders," the Israel's army said in a statement.

In an address to the people of Lebanon on 8 October, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces "took out thousands of terrorists, including (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement and the replacement of his replacement.”

Late on Tuesday (22 October 2024), the IDF said that Israel's air force "conducted a precise, intelligence-based strike on Hezbollah's main intelligence headquarters," in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Hezbollah's stronghold in the Lebanese capital, three weeks ago.

The statement added that over 25 terrorists of Hezbollah were present at the headquarters during the strike, "including Bilal Saib Aish, who was in charge of aerial intelligence gathering".

In early October, it was reported that Hashem Safieddine, a cleric with strong ties to Iran, was the "most likely" successor to lead the group. 

Resembling his distant cousin Hassan Nasrallah, Safieddine, in his late 50s or early 60s, was seen as the frontrunner due to his strong connection with Iran.

"We have reached Nasrallah, his replacement, and most of Hezbollah's senior leadership", the Israeli army's chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said in a statement late on Tuesday after the confirmation of Safieddine's death.

However, Hezbollah has not yet issued a statement regarding the claim.

As the Israel-Gaza war marked its one-year anniversary on 7 October 2024, the conflict has intensified into a broader Middle East crisis, involving Hezbollah from Lebanon, Houthi rebels, Iran, and other regional forces.

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