Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine reportedly killed in Israeli airstrike

BEIRUT: Reports have emerged that Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.

According to British media, citing Israeli security sources, Safieddine was targeted and allegedly martyred in the ongoing conflict.

Heavy bombardment by the Israeli forces has been going on for the past two days in South Beirut. Lebanese security sources have confirmed that due to ongoing strikes, aid workers have not been able to reach the site of the attack where Hashem Safieddine is believed to have been targeted. These sources also indicated that Safiuddin has been unreachable since the strike, fueling speculation about his death.

American media have also reported that Hashem Safieddine was deliberately targeted during these operations. Bombardment has been particularly heavy in south Beirut, as Israeli forces have stepped up their offensive.

British reports further revealed that Israeli forces used social media posts, television signals and even vehicle meters to track key Hezbollah leaders.

Safi al-Din, a close relative of current Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly being considered as his successor. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have increased since October 7, 2023, with frequent clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, nearly 2,000 people have died in the country since then, most of them as a result of the conflict since September 23.