Hezbollah’s reported leader Hashem Safieddine missing after Israeli airstrike: Sources
Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine speaks during the funeral of Mohammed Nasser, a senior Hezbollah commander who was killed by what security sources say was an Israel strike on Wednesday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon July 4, 2024. (Reuters/Aziz Taher)
Hezbollah’s executive council chairman, Hashem Safieddine, has been unreachable since last Friday following an Israeli airstrike, according to Lebanese security sources.
Safieddine, widely seen as the likely successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly in an underground headquarters in Marijah when the attack occurred.
A Lebanese security source informed Al Jazeera that Safieddine has not been contacted since the strike, raising concerns about his fate. The location was hit during ongoing Israeli air raids targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, part of a wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Rescue operations for Safieddine hampered
Attempts to search for Safieddine or confirm his status have been hampered by continued airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, where rescue workers have been unable to access the strike site.
Three Lebanese security officials told Reuters that the ongoing bombardments have delayed rescue efforts, leaving Safieddine’s condition uncertain.
Safieddine’s disappearance follows a series of Israeli strikes that have displaced more than 1.2 million Lebanese residents from their homes, according to local reports.
Possible successor to Nasrallah
As a prominent figure in Hezbollah, Safieddine is considered a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah, the current leader of the militant group. His disappearance has left a leadership void within the organization at a critical time, as tensions escalate between Hezbollah and Israel.
Earlier reports indicated that Safieddine’s fate remained unclear amid the chaos of the attacks, with the organization struggling to reestablish communication with him.
