Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says on Tuesday that they have killed the heir to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who died in an Israeli attack in September. Haaretz writes that. Previously, there has been speculation that Nasrallah’s relative, Hashem Safieddine, was killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut on Tuesday last week. Safieddine has been pointed to by several as the likely successor to Nasrallah. For now, it is not clear whether it is him Netanyahu is referring to. Hashem Safieddine is a cousin of former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Photo: AP The American news website Axios has previously referred to three unnamed sources who have stated that Safieddine was killed in an attack in Beirut. However, Hezbollah has said it has lost contact with Nasrallah’s nephew after the attack. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that Safieddine is probably dead, according to Reuters. Now the spokesman for the IDF, Daniel Hagari, has stated that the military is still investigating the results of the air strike. Daniel Hagari is rear admiral in the IDF and is head of the advocacy unit of the IDF. This picture is from a press conference in 2023. Photo: AFP During a press conference he was asked about the attack on Safieddine, where he replied: – We struck at Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut. This is the headquarters of the head of the intelligence division, Abu Abdullah Mortada. We know that Hashem Safieddine was there with him. The results of this attack are still being investigated, and Hezbollah is trying to hide the details. When we know more, we will inform the public. Will weaken Hezbollah The attack is part of a targeted strategy on the part of the IDF to weaken Hezbollah. – We have limited Hezbollah’s opportunities. We have taken out thousands of terrorists, including Hassan Nasrallah himself, his heir, and the heir of the heir. He emphasizes Israel’s right to defend itself, but also Israel’s right “to win”. “Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been in many years,” Netanyahu said in a statement. Israel’s prime minister warns the Lebanese that they risk as much destruction and suffering as the people of Gaza if they do not “liberate” the country from Hezbollah. Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a pre-recorded video that the IDF has killed Nasrallah’s heir. Photo: Reuters It is generally believed that Safieddine is dead. Lieutenant Colonel Gunnar Gabrielsen is currently in Beirut as a private individual, and he believes with great probability that Hashem Safieddine has been killed in an Israeli attack. – It is difficult to say whether he has been confirmed killed, but it is generally understood here that he is dead, he says to news. He adds that since there has been no public statement from Safieddine so far, it will often mean that the person in question is dead. He also believes that Hezbollah is reluctant to make public that Safieddine is dead. – Even though martyrdom is very strong in Hezbollah, there is something about a new leader being taken so soon after he is appointed. It doesn’t look good. Gunnar Gabrielsen is a lieutenant colonel in the armed forces, currently on leave, and works in South Sudan for an African humanitarian organisation. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news Furthermore, Gabrielsen emphasizes that the IDF has not yet confirmed that Safieddine has been killed. – The IDF usually doesn’t confirm anything except when they are sure, so I guess this is based on intelligence into Hezbollah. One of the founders Gabrielsen says that Safieddine was one of the founders of Hezbollah from 1982 and a “hardliner”. Safieddine has stated, among other things, that “Hezbollah exists to crush and humiliate Israel”. There must have been rumors that the IDF had drones hanging over the scene after the air attack on Safieddine which “made it impossible” for anyone to get into the bunker that had been blown up, says Gabrielsen. – I have not heard that these should have returned fire, and it may only be the observed ones, but the Lebanese believe it was an attack drone of some kind, he adds. IDF takes several villages Gabrielsen believes Hezbollah is now feeling the pressure. – They have lost their entire top management, actually several times. Even the council that appoints the secretary-general was taken out at the same time as Nasrallah’s successor was taken out, he says. Gabrielsen mentions that in the south of Lebanon you can see that the IDF has entered several villages, and has taken control of the areas from Hezbollah. – It is quite dynamic at the moment. The question is whether Hezbollah will be able to drum up a coordinated response, but they won’t be able to do that all the time they are on the back foot, he says, adding that he thinks this war will last quite a long time. Published 08.10.2024, at 18.43 Updated 08.10.2024, at 20.58
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Still unclear if Nasrallah’s heir has been confirmed dead – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
