Headline: Israel Confirms the Death of Hezbollah's Key Figure Hashem Safieddine
In a recent conflict, the Israeli military confirmed the death of Hashem Safieddine, a key figure in Hezbollah and a relative of the group's deceased leader Hassan Nasrallah. Since Nasrallah's assassination on September 27, Safieddine had been serving in a leadership position alongside Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem.
A member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council, responsible for military operations, Safieddine also headed the group's Executive Council, which manages financial and administrative affairs. If his death is confirmed by Hezbollah, it would mark a significant loss for the group, which has already lost several leaders at the hands of Israel.
Seen as a potential successor to Nasrallah, Safieddine had become more prominent in the past year, especially during conflicts with Israel. He gained attention for public appearances by speaking at funerals and other events from which Nasrallah abstained due to security concerns.
On October 8, 2023, following an attack by Hezbollah's ally Hamas on southern Israel, which sparked the Gaza conflict, Safieddine supported Hamas at a rally in Beirut, stating that Hezbollah's weapons were at their disposal.
Resembling Nasrallah physically and wearing a black turban symbolizing descent from the Prophet Muhammad, Safieddine hailed from a leading Lebanese Shia family. After studying at religious seminars in Qom, Iran, he returned to Lebanon in the 1990s to assume leadership roles within Hezbollah, maintaining strong ties with Iran.
His family connections extend to Iran's elite circles; his son Reza is married to the daughter of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Safieddine's brother Abdullah represents Hezbollah in Tehran.
As head of the Executive Council, Safieddine managed various Hezbollah institutions providing services such as healthcare, education, and construction. He played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of Beirut's suburbs controlled by Hezbollah after the 2006 war with Israel, describing it as a "new victory" against Israel in a 2012 speech.
The U.S. designated Safieddine as a specially designated global terrorist in 2017. Previously, he had criticized the U.S. administration under President Trump, dismissing efforts to pressure Hezbollah.
His death opens a new chapter in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as regional observers closely monitor the group's next moves.