Hezbollah’s Second-in-Command, Hashem Safieddine, Killed in Israeli Strikes
Hashem Safieddine, the second-most powerful figure in the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has been killed in Israeli airstrikes, both Israel and Hezbollah confirmed on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The death of the 60-year-old Safieddine comes as a major blow to the organization and at a time of heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
Safieddine, a close confidante and maternal cousin of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was widely considered to be the group’s next leader after Nasrallah’s death. He had been actively preparing for the position for years and was already effectively running the organization following Nasrallah’s death in a September 27 airstrike in Beirut.
Safieddine, a prominent figure in Hezbollah’s decision-making and military leadership, was known for his fiery speeches against Israel. He headed the group’s Executive Council, overseeing schools and social programs, and was a member of both the Shura Council and the Jihad Council, which acts as the military command.
His death comes amidst a significant escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah which has joined the Israel-Hamas conflict, firing rockets, drones, and missiles at Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes from Israel.
The recent weeks have seen an intensification of the conflict, with Israel targeting top Hezbollah commanders and disrupting the group’s communication infrastructure. Israel has now launched a ground invasion in Lebanon, aiming to push Hezbollah back from the border.
