Hashem Safieddine is expected to become the next leader of Hezbollah following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s secretary general for over 30 years, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday. Nasrallah reportedly died slowly after inhaling toxic gases from a targeted Israeli strike during the bombardment of Beirut.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Nasrallah’s death, alongside that of Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front. Safieddine, who is said to hold more hardline views than Nasrallah, issued a stark warning to Israel weeks before the attack, saying: “Prepare to cry and wail.”
Known for his strong ties to Iran, Safieddine has been groomed for leadership within Hezbollah, holding key positions such as the head of the group’s Jihad council and membership in the Shura council. His family connections to Iran’s leadership are significant—his son is married to the daughter of Qasem Soleimani, the former Iranian military chief.
In 2017, Safieddine was blocked as a terrorist by the U.S. His rise to leadership is expected to continue Hezbollah’s militant stance, with him vowing that “when any leader is martyred, another takes up the flag with new, strong determination.”
Safieddine’s hardline rhetoric and close ties to Iran suggest a continuation of Hezbollah’s aggressive posture in the region.
