• Wion
  • /World
  • /Potential successor of Hezbollah, Safieddine killed in Israeli attacks, group confirms

Potential successor of Hezbollah, Safieddine killed in Israeli attacks, group confirms

Potential successor of Hezbollah, Safieddine killed in Israeli attacks, group confirms

Hezbollah potential next leader Hashem Safieddine

Hashem Safieddine, the top Hezbollah official widely expected to succeed slain Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli attack, the group said Wednesday (Oct 23).

Hezbollah confirmed that Safieddine was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Safieddine had been running Hezbollah alongside its deputy secretary general Naim Qassem since Nasrallah's assassination and was expected to be formally elected as its next secretary-general, although no official announcement had yet been made.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

A relative of Nasrallah, Safieddine had sat on the group's Jihad Council - the body responsible for its military operations. He was also head of its executive council, overseeing Hezbollah's financial and administrative affairs.

Safieddine assumed a prominent role in speaking for Hezbollah during the year of hostilities with Israel that ultimately led to his death, addressing funerals and other events that Nasrallah had long been unable to attend for security reasons.

Watch |Israel-Hezbollah War: Death of Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah's Heir Apparent Confirmed: IDF

His killing further erodes the group's top leadership as Israeli strikes pummel Lebanon's south, eastern Bekaa Valley and southern suburbs of Beirut - all Hezbollah strongholds - and the group's fighters seek to push back Israeli ground incursions.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WIONaudience.

About the Author

Mansi Arora

Ardent geopolitical news writer with a keen eye for global affairs. With passion for illuminating the complexities of global dynamics, Mansi explores her interests by delivering ne...Read More