Israel targets presumed new Hezbollah chief in strike – Washington Examiner
Recent events in Lebanon have escalated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following an Israeli airstrike targeting Hashem Safieddine, a key leader within Hezbollah and presumed successor to Hassan Nasrallah. The airstrike took place late on October 3, 2024, in a Beirut suburb, and while it remains uncertain if Safieddine sustained fatal injuries, reports suggest that the strike was significant, potentially more so than the one that killed Nasrallah in late September.
As per Lebanese health ministry reports, Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 1,276 fatalities in Lebanon, heightening the ongoing conflict. The airstrike intensified fears of further escalation in the region, as Hezbollah has yet to comment on potential casualties from this latest attack. Safieddine was believed to be in a bunker during the strike, which is indicative of the escalating measures both sides are willing to take in the protracted conflict.
This incident not only reflects the current state of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah but also indicates a potential shift in Hezbollah’s leadership dynamics, given the significance of targeting a leading official during such volatile circumstances.
Israel targets presumed new Hezbollah chief in strike
Israel continued its attacks against Hezbollah with a strike against the head of Hezbollah’s executive committee, Hashem Safieddine, the person presumed to succeed former leader Hassan Nasrallah.
It’s not clear if Safieddine was killed, though according to Lebanese news reports, the strike was larger than the one that killed Nasrallah on Sept. 27.
Safieddine was reportedly in a bunker when the blast hit.
The strike occurred in a suburb south of Lebanon’s capital of Beirut. Whether there were any casualties is not yet known. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 1,276 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Hezbollah previously denied that Safieddine had been appointed their leader. He is the cousin of Nasrallah, who led the terrorist organization for more than 30 years. Safieddine was labeled by the United States as a specially designated global terrorist in 2017.
Safieddine showed a particular affinity with Hamas, the terrorist organization fighting against Israel in Gaza.
“Our history, our guns, and our rockets are with you,” he said of Palestinian fighters at an event in Dahiyeh, a suburb in southern Beirut.
Israel is fighting on two fronts with its war against Hamas in Gaza and its intensified conflict with Hezbollah. Before recently, Hezbollah and Israel had continually skirmished with each other, exchanging rockets and strikes. Israel’s campaign in Gaza led to escalated tensions between the Jewish state and the U.S.-designated terrorist group.
After Israel’s assassination of Nasrallah, Iran responded by launching over a hundred ballistic missiles at Israel, but the Jewish state reported no Israeli casualties.
Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon to further weaken Hezbollah. Several Israeli soldiers have been killed.
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