In a recent interview, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that Hashem Safieddine, widely recognized as the successor to the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, may have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commented, delivering a pre-recorded speech on October 8, in which he confirmed that Israeli forces had eliminated Nasrallah’s successor, though he did not reveal the identity of the individual.
Gallant stressed that Safieddine was likely taken out during the recent military operations, bolstering the Israeli government’s narrative of having significantly weakened Hezbollah by targeting and eliminating thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah and his potential successors.
During his visit to the northern command center, Gallant claimed that Hezbollah is currently leaderless, stating that with Nasrallah gone, the organization lacks direction for decision-making and actions.
While Hezbollah has yet to respond directly to these claims, prior to Gallant’s remarks, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem addressed the situation in a televised speech. He acknowledged the serious challenges the organization has faced due to Israeli actions but insisted that Hezbollah’s capabilities remain robust, asserting that many cities in Israel are still within the range of their missiles. Qassem also expressed the group’s support for Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s efforts to seek a ceasefire.
