After the assassination of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Hashem Safieddine, is likely to succeed him as the head of the militant organization.

Safieddine, the cousin of Nasrallah oversees the group’s political affairs. However, there was no mention of his name in Hezbollah’s statement announcing the killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.

The media reports suggests Safieddine survived the latest Israeli attack. However, Hezbollah has yet to confirm this report.

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Who Is Hashem Safieddine?

Hashem Safieddine, also known as Hashim Safi Al Din was born in 1964 in Deir Qanoun En Nahr, southern Lebanon. He is considered as an influential Lebanese Shia cleric and senior leader within Hezbollah. He is widely regarded as the second-in-command within the organization. His brother, Abdallah Safi Al Din, is a Hezbollah representative in Iran.

Al Din studied at the theological centers in Najaf, Iraq, and Qum, Iran and joined Lebanon later in 1994. He quickly advanced through the ranks of Hezbollah, entering Majlis Al Shura in 1995 and shortly thereafter assuming the position of head of Jihad Council.

Safieddine has also served as the chief of Hezbollah’s decision-making body since 1992. In 2017, the US State Department designated Safieddine as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist.’

Also Read: Another Hezbollah Leader Killed in Israeli Strike After Nasrallah, Body Discovered in Bombed Bunker