BEIRUT. The potential successor to the late Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has reportedly been unreachable since Friday, following an Israeli airstrike that is believed to have targeted him. Lebanese security sources confirmed on Saturday that Hashem Safieddine, considered a key figure in Hezbollah’s hierarchy, has not been in contact since the bombing.
The airstrike, carried out by Israel on Thursday night, was part of its intensified campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon. According to a report from Axios citing three Israeli officials, the strike specifically targeted an underground bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Safieddine was believed to be present.
Lebanese security sources also reported that Israeli strikes since Friday have hampered rescue efforts in the Dahiyeh district, a densely populated area that serves as a stronghold for Hezbollah. Rescue teams have been unable to fully search the rubble for survivors or casualties.
Hezbollah has yet to issue an official statement regarding Safieddine’s status.
The potential loss of Safieddine, who was widely regarded as Nasrallah’s successor, would be a significant blow to Hezbollah and its primary supporter, Iran. Over the past year, Israeli strikes have increasingly decimated the leadership of Hezbollah, particularly in recent weeks.
Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon escalated further on Saturday, with the first airstrike hitting the northern city of Tripoli, according to a Lebanese security official. More bombs fell on Beirut’s southern suburbs, while Israeli ground forces conducted raids in southern Lebanon. Reuters eyewitnesses confirmed that at least eight strikes hit the Dahiyeh area late Saturday, including areas near Beirut’s international airport.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that Israel’s ground operations in southern Lebanon have led to the deaths of 440 Hezbollah fighters and the destruction of over 2,000 Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not released any figures on casualties from the ongoing conflict.
Israel’s aggressive military actions, which include both air and ground assaults, aim to weaken Hezbollah’s capacity to strike northern Israel, which has been heavily bombarded by the group since October 8, 2023. “We are committed to ensuring the safe return of tens of thousands of Israeli citizens to their homes,” Rear Admiral Hagari added.
The Israeli military’s operations have already claimed the life of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during an airstrike on September 27. Now, with Safieddine missing, Hezbollah faces a deepening crisis in its leadership structure.
The situation remains fluid, with tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continuing to escalate as the conflict extends beyond the borders of Lebanon.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
