The Israeli military confirmed for the first time that Safieddin, the potential successor to Hezbollah leader, had been killed in an airstrike at the beginning of the month._1

The Israeli military confirmed on October 22 that Hashem Safieddine, widely regarded as the successor to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an airstrike on October 4. This airstrike targeted a Hezbollah underground intelligence headquarters located in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

According to Israeli forces, the strike not only claimed the life of Safieddine but also resulted in the deaths of Hezbollah’s intelligence chief, Ali Hussein Hazima, along with approximately 25 other members, including several high-ranking commanders.

Following the airstrike, Safieddine had been out of contact with the outside world until the Israeli military announced the confirmation of his death. Hezbollah has yet to officially acknowledge his passing.

Safieddine was designated a terrorist by the U.S. State Department in 2017. He is also Nasrallah’s cousin and, like Nasrallah, is recognized as a cleric wearing a black turban, signifying his descent from the Islamic prophet Muhammad.