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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a development that could significantly impact Hezbollah’s leadership, Hashem Safieddine, the cousin and designated successor to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, is presumed dead following a targeted airstrike in Southern Beirut. This revelation came from an Israeli security source, as reported by Sky News Arabic, and later cited in a report on the World Israel News web site.
Safieddine, a key figure in Hezbollah and Nasrallah’s maternal cousin, was severely injured in an underground location during a strike on Friday night, making survival nearly impossible. A Lebanese security official supported this assessment, telling Sky News Arabic that the likelihood of Safieddine surviving the blast was “almost zero.” Despite efforts to confirm his status, Safieddine has been unreachable since the incident, and World Israel News has confirmed that the aftermath of the strike has hampered rescue operations in the area.
Hezbollah leaders:
💀 Hassan Nasrallah: Eliminated on September 27.
💀 Hassan Khalil Yassin: Appointed on September 28. Eliminated hours later.
💀 Hashem Safieddine: Appointed on October 1. Eliminated on October 3.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3iAJNIm5pO— donsmallworks (@donsmallworks) October 6, 2024
Initial reports about Safieddine’s death surfaced early Saturday, with Saudi news outlet Al Hadath being the first to declare him dead. However, at the time of writing, other major news outlets have not officially corroborated this claim. The airstrikes, which occurred in the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold, targeted a meeting between Safieddine and other senior Hezbollah figures. The intensity of the strikes, along with the area’s underground bunkers, complicated rescue efforts and limited external access, according to information gathered by World Israel News.
Unconfirmed reports that #IbrahimAminAlSayyid the successor to #HashemSafieddine the successor to #Nasrallah got eliminated already. Probably too good to be true, but we shall see. https://t.co/055KIidgKZ https://t.co/ZwMdCnDQRj
— GiveMeLiberty (@ru23052) October 6, 2024
Hezbollah’s leadership is notoriously secretive, and given the tight control the group exercises over information, it’s not unusual that the details of Safieddine’s fate remain unclear. Hezbollah officials have not commented publicly on the matter, leaving observers to rely on intelligence sources for updates.
As the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, Safieddine wielded substantial power, overseeing the group’s political activities and sitting on the Judicial Council, which plays a pivotal role in the organization’s military operations. A cleric by training, Safieddine wore the black turban symbolizing his direct descent from the Prophet Mohammed, a detail that bolstered his authority within Hezbollah and among its supporters.
Safieddine’s importance to Hezbollah extended far beyond his familial ties to Nasrallah. His influence was partly shaped by his close relationship with Iran, having completed religious studies in Qom, a city known for producing influential clerics in Shia Islam. This connection made him a bridge between Hezbollah and the Iranian leadership, further cementing his role within the organization. His son’s marriage to the daughter of IRGC General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020, is another indication of the deep ties Safieddine had with Tehran. As the World Israel News report noted, these connections highlight the complex geopolitical web that Hezbollah is a part of, with Iran’s support playing a critical role in its operations.
Israel is obstructing search and rescue efforts in an area where senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine is thought to have been when Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday, a Hezbollah official said.https://t.co/oib32SbrTR
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 6, 2024
The U.S. State Department labeled Safieddine as a terrorist in 2017 due to his involvement in Hezbollah’s activities, particularly those directed at Israel and the West. Hezbollah itself has been designated as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, Israel, and several EU member states. Safieddine’s role in the group made him a target for both Israeli and Western intelligence agencies.
Safieddine had been vocal about his stance on Israel, often issuing threats and rallying Hezbollah’s base. In a fiery speech delivered at the funeral of a Hezbollah commander, he warned Israel, “Let the enemy prepare himself to cry and wail,” according to the report on World Israel News. His rhetoric often centered around Hezbollah’s long-standing commitment to armed resistance against Israel and its support for the Palestinian cause. At an event in Dahiyeh, Safieddine said, “Our history, guns, and rockets are with you,” reiterating Hezbollah’s stance of unwavering support for Palestinian factions engaged in conflict with Israel.
As Hezbollah’s designated successor, Safieddine was expected to take over leadership if Nasrallah were to step down or be incapacitated. In a speech delivered in Beirut in July, Safieddine himself addressed the issue of succession within Hezbollah, declaring, “In our resistance… when any leader is martyred, another takes up the flag and goes on with new, certain, strong determination.” His presumed death, therefore, raises questions about who will succeed him, as well as the future of Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Safieddine’s death marks a significant blow to Hezbollah, as it loses one of its most prominent and influential leaders. The power vacuum this creates could lead to internal struggles within the group, as various factions vie for influence and control. According to World Israel News, Hezbollah’s history has shown a strong organizational resilience, but the loss of key leaders often leads to shifts in strategy and operational capability.
