Israel Confirms Killing of Hezbollah Leader’s Successor in Beirut Airstrike

Israel officially confirmed it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the successor to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who died last month in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

Safieddine’s death was initially suspected but only confirmed this week by Israeli authorities.

The Israeli military stated that Safieddine was killed in a strike three weeks ago in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This is the first time Israel has provided concrete confirmation of the death, after earlier statements suggesting that Safieddine had “probably” been killed.

Hezbollah has not yet issued a response to the announcement

In a statement, Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said, “We have reached Nasrallah, his replacement, and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership. We will reach anyone who threatens the security of the civilians of the State of Israel.”

Israel has been escalating its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon following a year of increasing border tensions with the group, one of Iran’s most heavily armed proxies in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been involved in supporting Palestinian militants in Gaza while enduring a series of targeted airstrikes, which have claimed the lives of several senior commanders.

Safieddine, a relative of Nasrallah, was a prominent figure in Hezbollah, holding positions on its Jihad Council, responsible for military operations, and the executive council, overseeing financial and administrative functions. He had also become more visible in public, taking on roles traditionally handled by Nasrallah, who had stayed out of the public eye for security reasons.

Ongoing Conflict in Lebanon

Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon shows no signs of slowing down, even as it has succeeded in eliminating key figures within Hezbollah and Hamas. The airstrike that killed Nasrallah occurred on September 27, further weakening Hezbollah’s leadership.

Diplomatic sources suggest that Israel is aiming to secure a favorable position before a new U.S. administration takes office following the November 5 election, in which Vice President Kamala Harris is challenging former President Donald Trump.

Blinken’s Middle East Diplomacy

As Israel confirmed Safieddine’s death, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation. Blinken urged Netanyahu to take advantage of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death, which Israel confirmed earlier, to negotiate the release of hostages taken in the October 7 attack on Israeli civilians and push for an end to the Gaza conflict.

This marks Blinken’s 11th visit to the region since the Gaza war began, and likely the last before the U.S. presidential election.

During his visit, Blinken also sought ways to ease tensions in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have continued. One such strike near Beirut’s main state hospital killed at least 18 people, including four children, and injured 60 more.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, both Hamas and Hezbollah have shown no willingness to negotiate. Hezbollah, which claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Netanyahu’s holiday home over the weekend, continues to launch strikes against Israeli targets, including military sites near Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Escalating Crisis in Lebanon

The Israeli air campaign in Lebanon has devastated the country, displacing over 1.2 million people. The Lebanese government reported that 2,530 people have been killed so far, with at least 63 deaths occurring in the past 24 hours alone. Strikes continue to pound Lebanese cities, leading to the collapse of a multi-story building in Beirut on Tuesday, causing further panic among residents.