Israel says it killed Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor of the slain Hezbollah leader in a strike in a southern Beirut suburb three weeks ago.
Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of Safieddine on Tuesday.
It announced that Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, were “eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah’s main intelligence HQ in Dahieh approx. 3 weeks ago”.
It said, “Hashem Safieddine was a member of the Shura Council, Hezbollah’s most senior military-political forum, responsible for the decision-making and policy-making in the terrorist organization.
“Hashem was the cousin of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, and had a significant influence on decision-making within Hezbollah.
“During times when Nasrallah was absent from Lebanon, Hashem filled in as the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Throughout the years, Safieddine directed terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and took part in Hezbollah’s central decision-making processes.
“Alongside Hashem, the terrorist Ali Hussein Hazima, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, was also eliminated. He was responsible for directing numerous attacks on IDF soldiers.”