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Assassination of Hashem Safieddine

Coordinates: 33°51′5″N 35°30′14″E / 33.85139°N 35.50389°E / 33.85139; 35.50389
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Assassination of Hashem Safieddine
Part of the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the Israel–Hezbollah war (2023–present)
TypeAirstrike
Location
Dahieh, Lebanon

33°51′5″N 35°30′14″E / 33.85139°N 35.50389°E / 33.85139; 35.50389
TargetHashem Safieddine
Date3 October 2024
Executed by Israeli Air Force
Dahieh is located in Lebanon
Dahieh
Dahieh
Location within Lebanon

On the night of 3 October 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike on an underground bunker in Dahieh, a predominantly Shia Muslim suburb in the south of Beirut, Lebanon, where Hezbollah leaders, including Hashem Safieddine, had convened in the headquarters of Hezbollah's Intelligence Branch.[1][2] Safieddine was later confirmed dead by both the IDF and Hezbollah.[3][4]

Background

Hashem Safieddine was the cousin of and presumed successor to Hassan Nasrallah, who had been the leader of Hezbollah until he was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on the Hezbollah headquarters on 27 September 2024. Safieddine, who was attending a meeting with senior Hezbollah officials at the time of the strike, was head of the Hezbollah executive council and the Jihad Council, which manages the group's military operations. Safieddine was designated a terrorist in May 2017 by the United States Department of State and Saudi Arabia for his leadership role in Hezbollah.[5][6] According to the IDF, there were more than 25 members of Hezbollah's intelligence division inside the command headquarters, including Saeb Ayyash, the air assembly officer in the intelligence division, and Mahmoud Muhammad Shahin, the Hezbollah intelligence division officer in the Syrian branch.[7]

Airstrike

In the wider context of the latest Israel–Hezbollah war, at least 11 consecutive bombings took place in Dahieh on that occasion, reportedly targeting a meeting taking place in an underground bunker and consisting of several senior Hezbollah officials, including Safieddine and the group's chief of intelligence, Hussein Ali Hazimeh.[8][1] It is unclear how many casualties were caused in the attack. The IDF said that the strikes targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.[9]

Around 73 tons of bombs were dropped on the bunker by the Israeli Air Force, and the strikes were reportedly larger than the attack that killed Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah on 27 September 2024.[9][10] Footage of the aftermath showed giant balls of flame rising from the bunker with thick smoke and flares bursting out. The attack emitted loud bangs and caused buildings to shake.[1]

Fate of Hashem Safieddine

According to the Israeli Channel 12, Israeli security officials were "increasingly confident" that Safieddine had been killed in the attack.[5]

On 5 October, a Lebanese security source reported that Hezbollah lost contact with Safieddine, and that Hezbollah has not heard from him since the airstrike.[11][12]

Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported that Israel confirmed the assassination of Hashem Safieddine and all Hezbollah leaders that were with him.[13] On 8 October, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Safieddine was likely "eliminated". The claim was later repeated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[14][15][16] On 22 October, the IDF formally announced his killing along with Hussein Hazimeh and 24 other senior Hezbollah members.[17][4][18] Hezbollah confirmed Sadieddine's death the following day,[19] and confirmed Hazimeh's death two days later.[20]

Analysis

According to military analyst Elijah Magnier, the disappearance of Hashem Safieddine will not change Hezbollah's military strategy against Israel because "the team of special forces in the south of Lebanon are fighting independently of the political decision-making in Beirut".[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Christou, William; Beaumont, Peter (4 October 2024). "Israel launches intense attacks on Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut's south". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Huge Explosions Rock Area South of Beirut". The New York Times. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. ^ "IDF confirms Nasrallah's designated successor dead". France 24. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Israel confirms 'eliminating' Hashem Safieddine, potential successor of slain Hezbollah chief Nasrallah". Arab News. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel (4 October 2024). "Nasrallah's presumed successor said to be target of heavy Israeli strike in Beirut". The Times of Israel.
  6. ^ Sharp, Alexandra (7 October 2024). "Israel Targets Potential Hezbollah Successor in Major Overnight Barrage". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  7. ^ "المركزية - الجيش الإسرائيلي: مقتل القياديين بحزب الله صائب عياش ومحمود محمد شاهين في الغارة التي قتلت هاشم صفي الدين". المركزية (in Arabic). Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Nasrallah's reported successor, Hashem Safieddine, targeted in IAF strike in Beirut - report". The Jerusalem Post. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ravid, Barak (4 October 2024). "Israel targets potential Hezbollah successor in Beirut airstrike". Axios. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  10. ^ Zitun, Yoav (4 October 2024). "Strike targeting presumptive Nasrallah replacement uses 73 ton of bombs". Ynetnews. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  11. ^ Lau, Chris (5 October 2024). "Israel strikes Lebanon as region braces for response to Iran: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Hezbollah loses contact with leader seen as Nasrallah's successor: Sources". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  13. ^ "مصادر الحدث: هاشم صفي الدين قتل بالغارة مع مساعدين وإيرانيين". Al Hadath. 5 October 2024.
  14. ^ Spencer, Richard (8 October 2024). "Hezbollah successor was killed in airstrike, says Netanyahu". The Times. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Israel says senior Hezbollah official probably dead". Reuters. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Netanyahu confirms Hezbollah's Safieddine killed, says terror group at its weakest point in many years". The Times of Israel.
  17. ^ Grylls, George (22 October 2024). "Hashem Safieddine: Israel kills Hezbollah heir to Nasrallah". The Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leader". Associated Press. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine, heir apparent to Nasrallah, killed in Israeli attack, group says". The Times of Israel. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Hezbollah confirmed the martyrdom of "Hussein Ali Hazimeh"". Webangah. 24 October 2024.
  21. ^ Uras, Umut. "Israel vows retaliation for Iran attack as its strikes kill 25 in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
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