Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the Hezbollah official expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike near Beirut. Safieddine was the head of Hezbollah’s executive council and had oversight over the group’s financial and administrative affairs. The Israeli Defense Forces stated that Safieddine was killed in an airstrike on Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Dahieh, along with other senior members of the group. Israel’s military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi declared that Israel would target anyone who threatened its security. Safieddine’s death comes after the killing of Nasrallah in a previous Israeli attack, leaving Hezbollah leadership in disarray.
The escalation in Israeli offensive in Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of dozens of Hezbollah members, impacting the group’s structure. The U.S. had designated Safieddine as a terrorist in 2017, and he was seen as the next leader of Hezbollah. The confirmation of his death coincided with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, where he discussed efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and to deter Iranian aggression. The delegation’s departure was briefly disrupted by rocket fire from Hezbollah intercepted by Israel. Blinken emphasized the importance of ending the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon, increasing humanitarian aid flow to Gaza, and ensuring Israel’s security. Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon and ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and Iran were also discussed during Blinken’s visit.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com