Tel Aviv: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut earlier this month.
Hezbollah's executive council's head, Safieddine, was widely believed to be the successor to Hassan Nasrallah following his death in September. The Times of Israel reported that Safieddine was the cousin of Hassan Nasrallah.
According to the IDF, Safieddine was killed alongside Hussein Ali Hazima, the Commander of Hezbollah's Intelligence Headquarters, during the operation on October 4.
The airstrike was aimed at Hezbollah's underground intelligence headquarters in Beirut, which the Israeli military described as being "in the heart of a civilian population" in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, known for its dense residential buildings.
The IDF stated that over 25 members of Hezbollah's intelligence division, including other senior commanders, were present at the headquarters at the time of the strike.
Safieddine had been out of contact following the strike. However, the IDF has today confirmed his demise. Hezbollah has yet to issue a statement regarding his death. The US State Department had designated Safieddine as a terrorist in 2017.
In a statement shared on X, the IDF declared, "Hashem Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah's Intelligence Headquarters, were eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah's principal intelligence HQ in Dahieh, approximately 3 weeks ago. Hashem Safieddine was a member of the Shura Council, Hezbollah's most senior military-political forum, tasked with the decision-making and policy-making functions within the terrorist organization."
"Hashem Safieddine, the cousin of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, played a pivotal role in the decision-making processes of Hezbollah. During periods when Nasrallah was absent from Lebanon, Safieddine assumed the role of Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Throughout his tenure, Safieddine directed numerous terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and participated in the central decision-making processes of Hezbollah. Alongside Safieddine, the terrorist Ali Hussein Hazima, the Commander of Hezbollah's Intelligence Headquarters, was also eliminated. He was instrumental in overseeing numerous attacks on IDF soldiers," it added.
On September 28, the IDF announced the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in the airstrikes conducted by the Israeli military in Beirut. In a statement, the IDF declared, "Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world."
