The next potential Hezbollah leader is expected to be Hashem Safieddine, who is said to hold “even more hardline views” than his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah – who was killed in an airstrike on Friday.
Nasrallah – the militant group’s secretary general for over 30 years – was killed following a relentless Israeli bombardment of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Israel’s media revealed that Nasrallah died slowly and painfully as he inhaled toxic gases following a targeted Israeli air strike.
The IDF said that it also killed Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front.
Hashem Safieddine issued a warning to Israel several weeks ago: “Prepare to cry and wail”
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Nasrallah possible replacement, Hashem Safieddine issued a warning to Israel several weeks ago: “Prepare to cry and wail.”
He has also been named as a terrorist by the US, which blacklisted him in 2017.
During a speech in July, at the funeral of a killed militant, Safieddine said: “In our resistance … when any leader is martyred, another takes up the flag and goes on with new, certain, strong determination.”
Similarly to Nasrallah, he studied religion and Iran – and had been primed to lead Hezbollah one day.
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His close and familial ties with the Iranian regime have also been noted.
Safieddine’s son is married to the daughter of Qasem Soleimani – the former Iranian military chief who helped to build up Iran’s network of militia in the region.
He is already the head of Hezbollah’s Jihad council and among the top members of its Shura council.
While his brother is Hezbollah’s representative in Iran.
He has also been named as a terrorist by the US, which blacklisted him in 2017
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At a recent event in Dahieh, Safieddine said in support of Hamas in Gaza: “Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you.”
Saudi Arabia also classifies him as a terrorist.
He has always been a vocal critic of US policy, earlier that year: “This mentally impeded, crazy US administration headed by Trump will not be able to harm the resistance.”