Israel confirmed last night that it had killed <a href="https://time.news/hezbollah-new-chief-studying-in-iran-khameneis-special-know-who-is-hashem-safieddine-who-can-become-the-new-leader-of-hezbollah-will-replace-nasrallah-who-is-hashem-safieddine-will-be-hezbbol/" title="Hezbollah New Chief, studying in Iran, Khamenei's special… Know who is Hashem Safieddine who can become the new leader of Hezbollah, will replace Nasrallah – who is hashem safieddine will be hezbbollah next leader after hassan nsarallah death in isreali strike”>Hashem Saffieddin, the likely successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike against the Iranian-backed Lebanese military group last month, Reuters reported.
The military said Safieddine was killed in a strike three weeks ago in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the first confirmation of his death. Earlier this month, Israel said he had probably been eliminated.
At the moment, there is no response from Hezbollah to Israel’s statement that it killed Saffiedin, notes Reuters, BTA reports.
Israel is waging an increasingly intense offensive amid year-long border clashes with the Hezbollah group, which is in crisis after a series of top commanders killed in Israeli airstrikes. The group is the most heavily armed of Iran’s proxy forces in the Middle East and operates in support of Palestinian fighters fighting Israel in Gaza.
Safieddin is a relative of Nasrallah and a member of Hezbollah’s Jihad Council, the body responsible for the group’s military operations, as well as its executive council, which oversees Hezbollah’s financial and administrative affairs.
During the last year of the military conflict with Israel, Saffiedin played an important role, speaking on behalf of Hezbollah and delivering speeches at funerals and other events that Nasrallah had long been unable to attend for security reasons.
The Israeli strikes mainly hit southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah’s strongholds are located. The group’s fighters are trying to repel Israeli ground incursions.
Israel has so far shown no signs of ending its campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, even after killing several Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, Reuters noted.
Diplomats believe Israel is aiming to consolidate its strong position before the new US administration takes office after the Nov. 5 election pitting Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump.