The potential successor to slain Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hashem Safieddine, has been out of contact since Friday, according to a Lebanese security sources. Safieddine has been missing since Friday after an Israeli airstrike, believed to have targeted him, was carried out in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The airstrike, part of Israel’s ongoing campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, took place late Thursday. Axios reported that three Israeli officials confirmed the strike aimed at Safieddine, who was reportedly hiding in an underground bunker.
Lebanese security sources stated that Israeli strikes on the Dahiyeh neighborhood, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, have continued into Friday, making it difficult for rescue workers to search the area of the attack. The situation has prevented a thorough assessment of casualties or damage.
Hezbollah has not yet commented on the fate of Safieddine. Should his death be confirmed, it would deal a significant blow to the organization and its primary backer, Iran. Israeli strikes over the past year have intensified, with recent operations further weakening Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
