Hezbollah's Next Leader Likely Killed in Beirut Strike, Says Israeli Defense Minister

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official and potential successor to the terror group’s assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah, was likely killed in a recent strike in Beirut.

Gallant made the statement during a visit to the IDF Northern Command, where he highlighted the impact of the attack on Hezbollah’s leadership and capabilities.

"Hezbollah is an organization without a leader," Gallant said. "Nasrallah was eliminated, and his replacement was probably also eliminated. This has a dramatic effect on everything that happens. There is no one to make decisions, no one to act."

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Safieddine, who was positioned to take over after Nasrallah, is believed to have been a central figure in Hezbollah’s leadership structure, which has been significantly damaged by recent Israeli military actions.

Gallant also emphasized that Hezbollah's military firepower has suffered a substantial blow. He asserted that the consequences of these actions would resonate across the region, particularly in Iran, which Gallant described as having lost one of its most important assets.

"The actions we are taking are being observed all over the Middle East," Gallant said. "When the smoke in Lebanon clears, they will realize in Iran that they have lost their most valuable asset, which is Hezbollah."

The strikes come as part of an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the latter frequently firing rockets and engaging in hostile activities along the northern border. With the potential elimination of both Nasrallah and Safieddine, Hezbollah faces significant leadership challenges that could affect its ability to carry out future operations.

Israel has been closely monitoring Hezbollah’s movements, particularly as tensions remain high in the region, with Hezbollah serving as a key ally of Iran and a direct threat to Israel’s security.