Beirut, Lebanon – October 4, 2024: The fate of Hezbollah’s top official and potential successor to leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, remains uncertain following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Safieddine, a high-ranking cleric and maternal cousin of Nasrallah, has not been heard from since the strike, according to a Lebanese security source who spoke to CNN on Saturday.
The airstrike reportedly targeted Safieddine, although it is unclear whether he survived. An Israeli official confirmed that the cleric was the intended target, but no information has emerged confirming his death. Safieddine, seen as a key figure within Hezbollah, served as the head of the group’s executive council, which oversees political and organizational matters.
Safieddine's disappearance leaves questions regarding Hezbollah’s leadership succession. As Nasrallah's cousin and close ally, Safieddine was regarded as a top contender to assume the leadership role within the militant group, known for its close ties with Iran and its hostility toward Israel and the West. The group has not yet publicly named a successor to Nasrallah, adding to the uncertainty following the strike.
Born in 1964 in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Qanoun En Nahr, Safieddine shares deep personal and ideological ties with Nasrallah. The two clerics studied together in Iran in the 1980s and have been vocal critics of Israel. Safieddine also maintained close relationships with the Iranian leadership, particularly the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its late general Qasem Soleimani, whose daughter is married to Safieddine’s son.
Hezbollah’s executive council, which Safieddine headed, is one of five bodies within the organization’s Shura Council, responsible for decision-making on political matters. Safieddine was also a member of Hezbollah’s Jihad Council, which manages the group’s military operations.
Over the past year, Safieddine had increased his visibility within the organization, making public statements about the ongoing Gaza conflict and Hezbollah’s opposition to Israeli actions.
His criticism extended to U.S. policy in the region, accusing Washington of interfering in Lebanese politics and backing Israel’s military actions. In 2017, the U.S. officially designated Safieddine as a terrorist, adding him to its foreign terrorist list alongside Hezbollah.
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