Hashem Safieddine will assume the role of Hezbollah’s new chief following the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah was killed on Saturday during Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Safieddine, who is Nasrallah’s cousin, has been a key figure in the organization for over 32 years.
Reports circulated on Saturday suggesting that Safieddine had also been killed in Israeli bombardment. However, Reuters confirmed through Hezbollah sources that he is alive. Safieddine was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2017. He oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs and serves on the group’s Jihad Council, which is responsible for its military operations. Additionally, he is connected to Iran’s regime, being the father-in-law of Zeinab Soleimani, daughter of the late Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani.
Safieddine shares a striking physical resemblance with Nasrallah and joined Hezbollah alongside him in its early days. Born in 1964 in Deir Qanun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon, Safieddine has been groomed as Nasrallah’s successor since the 1990s, when he was brought back to Beirut from Iran where he was studying.
As the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, Safieddine has overseen the group’s political activities and civilian operations for decades. His responsibilities include managing Hezbollah’s education system and finances. Nasrallah, on the other hand, focused on the group’s strategic military matters.
In the coming days, Safieddine will likely face significant challenges as he steps into Nasrallah’s shoes, with Hezbollah confronting escalating tensions with Israel.
