Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council and the man many speculated would assume control of the organisation after the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in September, was killed in an air strike, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
“It can now be confirmed that in an attack approximately three weeks ago, Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council, and Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence directorate, were killed along with other Hezbollah commanders,” the IDF said in statement.
The strike, conducted on 5 October, targeted a compound in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh.
Israel claimed at the time that around 25 Hezbollah leaders were killed in the strike and that Saffiedine may have been one of those killed.
“We have reached Nasrallah, his replacement and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership. We will reach anyone who threatens the security of the civilians of the state of Israel,” said Israeli army chief Lt-Gen Herzi Halevi.
After the strike it was reported that Hezbollah had lost contact with Safieddine, and on 8 October Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he believed Safieddine was likely killed.
Hezbollah have made no comment yet about the Israeli claim.
The Beirut suburb where Safieddine was killed was attacked by a series of fresh air strikes on Tuesday, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting that more than 2,500 people have now been killed in Israeli air attacks since the bombing campaign began in September.
Israel says about 140 projectiles were fired by Hezbollah into Israel in the last day.
With input from agencies
