Israel killed a top Hezbollah leader in a strike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday.
Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader who was killed by Israel, is considered a likely successor Hashem Safieddineäreports Reuters.
In addition to Nasrallah, Israel has recently succeeded in killing several other Hezbollah leaders, and replacing Nasrallah, who led the organization for 32 years, is a challenge for Hezbollah.
Hashem Safieddine is considered a likely successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. EPA / AOP
– He has been the glue that holds the expanding organization together, said the research director of the Carnegie Middle East Center Mohanad Hage Ali before confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, according to the Times of Israel and Reuters.
There were also rumors of Safieddine’s death in Friday’s attacks, but according to a Reuters Hezbollah source, Safieddine is still alive after Friday’s attacks.
Safieddine is Nasrallah’s cousin, to whom he has given leadership roles in Hezbollah’s political and military leadership.
Like his cousin, Safieddine is a cleric who wears a black turban as a sign of his descent from the Prophet Muhammad. These factors count in his favor, as the leader of Hezbollah needs support not only within Hezbollah but also from Iran, says an expert on Shia armed organizations Philip Smyth.
The United States put Safieddine on the terrorist list in 2017.
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