Mystery Surrounds the Fate of "Safi al-Din".. Hezbollah: Israel Obstructs Search for Him

Mystery Surrounds the Fate of "Safi al-Din".. Hezbollah: Israel Obstructs Search for Him
Statements by Hezbollah officials about the difficulty of accessing the site of the raids reflect the extent of damage to the organization's infrastructure in the southern suburbs of Beirut
October 7, 2024, 2:26 am

هاشم صفي الدين

In the wake of Israeli raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday, uncertainty continues to surround the fate of Hashem Safi al-Din, one of the prominent leaders in Hezbollah. Mahmoud Qomati, a Hezbollah official, confirmed today, Sunday, that Israel is obstructing efforts to search for Safi al-Din, indicating that his fate remains unknown.

Speaking to Iraqi state television, Qomati pointed out that the process of choosing a new secretary-general for the organization may take time, raising questions about the internal situation of the party in the aftermath of the recent raids.

Media sources reported on Saturday that Safi al-Din was killed in the raid along with a number of his assistants, Iranian elements, and other field commanders from Hezbollah. These sources explained that the targeted site was deep underground.

For its part, Agence France-Presse quoted a senior Hezbollah source as saying that contact with Safi al-Din has been "cut off" since Friday. The source added: "We do not know if he was present at the location targeted by the raids, and who was with him."

Another source close to the party confirmed that the organization is trying to reach the targeted headquarters underground, but repeated Israeli raids are hindering rescue efforts. He indicated that Safi al-Din was accompanied by Hezbollah's intelligence chief known as Hajj Mortada.

It's worth noting that Hashem Safi al-Din holds the position of head of the Executive Council in Hezbollah. He is Hassan Nasrallah's cousin and is considered an important link between the party and Iran, as he has marriage ties with decision-makers in Tehran. The United States has classified him as a "foreign terrorist" since 2017.

Levant-Agencies

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