The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of Hashem Safieddine, the leader of Hezbollah’s executive council, and Ali Hussein Hazima, the commander of its intelligence headquarters, in a precise airstrike conducted approximately three weeks ago. The strike targeted Hezbollah’s main intelligence headquarters in Dahieh, leading to the elimination of over 25 Hezbollah operatives, including Bilal Saib Aish, who was responsible for aerial intelligence gathering.
Safieddine, a cousin of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was highly influential within the organization, filling in as secretary general when Nasrallah was away and playing a central role in decision-making and directing attacks against Israel. Hazima was involved in orchestrating assaults on Israeli soldiers.
This intelligence-based strike underscores the military’s focus on high-level Hezbollah figures and its operational command structure.
Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council and a key figure in the organization’s military operations, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on October 3, 2024. The airstrike targeted an underground bunker in the southern suburb of Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold. Safieddine, a cousin and presumed successor of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, had been attending a meeting with senior Hezbollah officials when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched the attack.
This strike followed a series of Israeli operations targeting high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, including the assassination of Nasrallah just days earlier. Safieddine, who was also the head of Hezbollah’s Jihad Council, played a crucial role in overseeing the group’s military strategy and operations. The Israeli strike that killed him was part of a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, characterized by ongoing hostilities and airstrikes in the region.​
The death of Safieddine is expected to have significant implications for Hezbollah’s leadership, though analysts suggest it may not drastically alter the group’s military approach due to its decentralized command structure.
