The assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes on the outskirts of Beirut has highlighted the man widely considered his heirHashem Safieddine.
Regarding its reputation, the US State Department accused him of being a terrorist in 2017 and in June, he threatened a major escalation against Israel following the assassination of another Hezbollah commander. “Let (the enemy) prepare to weep and lament,” he said at the funeral. In 2017, he said that “the mentally disabled and crazy US administration, led by Trump, will not be able to harm the resistance”, arguing that such actions They would only strengthen the resolve of Hezbollah.
The Iran-backed group confirmed that Nasrallah, who led the organization for 32 yearshad been killed in Friday’s attack. He now faces the challenge of choosing a new leader after the most intense bombardment that the group has suffered during its 42 years of history.
Safieddine, who, according to a group source, survived Israeli attacksheads the executive council and oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs. He is also part of the Jihad Council, which manages the group’s military operations, reports Reuters.
The possible heir is Nasrallah’s cousin and, like him, He is a clergyman who wears the black turban which denotes descent from the Prophet Muhammad.
In his public statements, Safieddine often reflects theHezbollah’s bellicose position and its alignment with the Palestinian cause.
At a recent event in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, he said: “Our history, our weapons and rockets are with you“, in a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian fighters.
Nasrallah prepared the ground
Former Hezbollah leaderstarted pulling the strings for Safieddine to take charge of various councils within the Shiite paramilitary group.
This, added to Safieddine’s family ties and his physical resemblance to Nasrallah, as well as his religious status as a descendant of Mohammed, also work in favor of his appointment as the new leader of the militia.
