Israeli airstrikes have reportedly led to the deaths of two key successors to Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this development as Israel intensifies its ground offensive in southern Lebanon, deploying a fourth army division.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said, “We’ve degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and his successors.” However, he did not disclose the names of those killed.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that Hashem Safieddine, a potential successor to Nasrallah, has likely been “eliminated.” The identity of the other successor mentioned by Netanyahu remains unclear. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that Safieddine was in Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters during a recent airstrike, and his status is still being verified.
This airstrike is part of a broader Israeli offensive following a year of border clashes with Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and supports Palestinian militants in Gaza. Netanyahu asserted that Hezbollah is currently weaker than it has been in many years.
The Israeli military reported that recent airstrikes targeted underground Hezbollah facilities, resulting in at least 50 fighter deaths, including six sector commanders.
Regional tensions have surged following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, and on October 1, Iran fired missiles at Israel in response to the conflict. Iranian officials have warned of retaliation against any attacks on their infrastructure and have cautioned Gulf states against facilitating such actions.
Amid escalating conflict, Western powers are exploring diplomatic avenues to avert broader instability in the Middle East. The Pentagon announced that Gallant would cancel his planned visit to Washington to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, expressed support for a negotiated truce, indicating that the cessation of hostilities in Gaza is no longer a prerequisite for halting combat in Lebanon. He noted Hezbollah’s backing for initiatives to end the fighting.
The U.S. State Department commented that Hezbollah’s call for a ceasefire indicates that the group is facing significant challenges on the battlefield. Despite these setbacks, Qassem maintained that Hezbollah’s capabilities remain intact, asserting, “Dozens of cities are within range of the resistance’s missiles.”