Israel announced on Tuesday that it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the Hezbollah official who was expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as the leader of the Iran-backed group. The airstrike that took Safieddine’s life also killed the commander of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, Ali Hussein Hazima, who was responsible for directing attacks on Israeli troops. Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of numerous Hezbollah members, including top leaders, leaving the group in disarray.
Safieddine, who was around 60 years old, was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2017. He played a significant role in Hezbollah’s financial, administrative, and military operations, and had been taking on a more prominent role in the group’s activities recently. Israeli strikes in Beirut continued on Tuesday, with one targeting a residential building said to contain Hezbollah facilities.
The confirmation of Safieddine’s death by Israel coincided with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, during which he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Blinken expressed hope for the release of hostages still held in Gaza and discussed efforts to deter further aggression from Iran. Israel and the U.S. also discussed ending the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon, increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and addressing the security threats in the region.
The U.S. delegation’s departure from Israel was briefly delayed by rocket fire from Hezbollah intercepted by Israel, further highlighting the ongoing tensions and security concerns in the region.
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