Hezbollah’s Senior Leader Hashem Safieddine’s whereabouts are unknown after Israeli air strike
Following an Israeli air strike on Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood, Hezbollah has lost contact with senior leader Hashem Safieddine, who was believed to be a possible successor to Hassan Nasrallah. Safieddine, the chairman of the armed group’s Executive Council and cousin of the late Nasrallah, was reportedly inside Hezbollah’s underground intelligence headquarters during the attack.
There is a sense of urgency to retrieve bodies from the area, as Safieddine’s fate remains unknown, leaving questions about succession within the organization. Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera political analyst, notes the intelligence breach within Hezbollah, allowing Israel to target its leaders. Nader Hashemi, a Middle East politics expert, sees Safieddine’s disappearance as a significant setback for Hezbollah.
Israel has been conducting intense bombing campaigns and a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon to target Hezbollah, resulting in casualties and displacements. The situation remains tense as both sides continue their military actions.