23-10-2024 (JERUSALEM) Israel’s military has officially confirmed the elimination of Hashem Safieddine, the presumptive successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a precision strike conducted three weeks ago in southern Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that the operation also claimed the life of Ali Hussein Hazima, who headed Hezbollah’s Intelligence Directorate, along with several other high-ranking commanders. The strike targeted what military officials described as “Hezbollah’s main intelligence headquarters”, where reportedly over 25 militants were present, including senior intelligence officer Bilal Saib Aish.
This confirmation follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier cryptic statement on October 8, where he referenced the elimination of “Nasrallah’s replacement and the replacement of his replacement” without specifically naming Safieddine.
Sources close to Hezbollah had previously indicated that Safieddine, a deeply religious cleric with strong ties to Iran and a distant relative of Nasrallah, had been incommunicado since Israeli strikes on Beirut. The grey-bearded, bespectacled leader, who was in his late 50s or early 60s, had been widely considered the “most likely” successor to lead the organisation.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the IDF’s chief, emphasised the strategic significance of the operation, stating, “We have reached Nasrallah, his replacement and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership.”
The confirmation comes amid an intensifying conflict that has claimed at least 1,552 lives since September 23, according to Lebanese health ministry figures. Israel has recently shifted its military focus to Lebanon, launching extensive air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds and deploying ground troops in late September, as part of efforts to secure its northern border from cross-border attacks.
The situation continues to escalate, with the IDF issuing fresh evacuation warnings for residents in southern Beirut suburbs on Tuesday evening, signalling possible imminent attacks. The military has also intensified its targeting of Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure across Lebanon.
Despite the significant losses in leadership, Hezbollah has maintained its offensive posture. The IDF reported that approximately 140 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Tuesday alone, highlighting the ongoing nature of the conflict.
This development represents a critical juncture in the regional conflict, potentially altering the power dynamics within Hezbollah and affecting the broader security situation in the Middle East. As of press time, Hezbollah has not issued an official statement regarding Safieddine’s reported death.
The elimination of such a high-ranking figure in Hezbollah’s leadership structure could have far-reaching implications for the organisation’s future operations and command structure, as well as its relationship with regional allies, particularly Iran.
