ISRAEL has killed Hezbollah’s “next leader” in a deadly blitz on a secret bunker in the latest blow to the terror group.
The Israeli military said Tuesday that Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut in early October.
AFPIsrael military has killed Hezbollah’s ‘next leader’ Hashem Safieddine[/caption]
APHezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike[/caption]
Safieddine, a powerful cleric within the Hezbollah ranks, was expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah.
Nasrallah, one of the groups founders, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September.
Israel said Safieddine was killed in Israeli airstrikes in early October in a southern suburb of Beirut.
Around 25 other Hezbollah leaders were killed during the airstrike.
Over the past months, Israeli strikes have killed much of Hezbollahs top leadership, leaving the group in disarray.
There was no immediate confirmation from the militant group about the fate of Safieddine.
An IDF statement read: “Hisham was the cousin of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah.
“Due to his familial and personal ties with Nasrallah, Hisham had a significant influence on decision-making within the terrorist organization. During times when Nasrallah was absent from Lebanon, Hisham filled in as the Secretary-General of Hezbollah.
“Throughout the years, Safieddine directed terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and took part in Hezbollah’s central decision-making processes.
“Alongside Hisham Safieddine, the terrorist Ali Hussein Hazima, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, was also eliminated.”
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