There are concerns over the possible loss of Hashem Safieddine, who is seen as a potential successor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. According to a Lebanese security source, Safieddine has been missing since Friday following an Israeli airstrike that is believed to have targeted him. Israel launched a major strike late on Thursday on Beirut's southern suburbs, an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold, aiming for an underground bunker where Safieddine was reportedly located.
Rescue workers have been unable to search the attack site due to continued Israeli airstrikes in the area, which have been ongoing since Friday. Israeli officials have not yet commented on Safieddine's status, but it is confirmed that Thursday's airstrike targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. Losing Safieddine, Nasrallah's rumored successor, would be a significant blow to Hezbollah, further weakening the group amid Israel’s intensified campaign against it and its Iranian backers.
Hezbollah has not yet commented on Safieddine's status following the attacks. In recent weeks, Israel has escalated its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, expanding the conflict to new areas. On Saturday, Israeli forces targeted Tripoli in northern Lebanon for the first time.
Bombs also hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, and Israeli troops conducted raids in southern Lebanon. Since last year, Israel has been engaged in clashes with Hezbollah, which had previously been contained to the Israel-Lebanon border, .
