Israel-Hezbollah Battle: Israeli warplanes launched an intense barrage of airstrikes in Lebanon so as to goal Hezbollah chief Hashem Safieddine, a cousin and the seemingly successor of the assassinated group chief Hassan Nasrallah, in keeping with Israeli officers. It’s not but clear whether or not Safieddine, who was presumed to be on the assembly of senior Hezbollah officers, was killed within the barrage.
Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, got here underneath renewed strikes close to midnight on Thursday after Israel ordered individuals to depart their houses in some areas, residents and safety sources stated. Safieddine was focused in an underground bunker, in keeping with Axios reporter Barak Ravid. Israel’s army declined to remark.
This tried assassination is the most recent effort by Israel to systematically eradicate Hezbollah’s management, after its largest successes in opposition to the Lebanese militant group when it assassinated Nasrallah and a number of other Hezbollah commanders inside every week. Israel says its operations in Lebanon search to permit tens of hundreds of its residents to return residence after Hezbollah bombardments through the Gaza conflict compelled them to evacuate from its north.
Who’s Hashem Safieddine?
Safieddine was born within the early Nineteen Sixties in southern Lebanon and was considered one of Hezbollah’s earliest members. He joined after the the Shiite Muslim group was fashioned within the Nineteen Eighties throughout Lebanon’s civil conflict with Iranian steerage, in keeping with The New York Instances. Safieddine rose rapidly in Hezbollah’s ranks alongside Nasrallah, enjoying the function of the group’s political, non secular and cultural chief together with overseeing its army actions.
Safieddine normally appeared in a black turban, marking him as a revered Shiite cleric who may hint his ancestry again to the Prophet Muhammad. He was promoted to Hezbollah’s Consultative Meeting, the group’s highest council, in 1995 and was quickly appointed as the top of its Jihadi Council, which oversees Hezbollah’s army actions. In 1998, Safieddine was elected to steer the celebration’s Government Council, a place held twice by Nasrallah.
Safieddine was designated a terrorist by the USA and Saudi Arabia in Could 2017 for his management function in Hezbollah and the State Division referred to as him a “senior chief” within the group’s govt council. Safieddine accomplished his training in Iran and fashioned robust relations with Tehran throughout his non secular research within the metropolis of Qom earlier than returning to Lebanon to work for Hezbollah.
He was a detailed buddy of Basic Qassam Soleimani, a former Iranian basic who was killed by a US airstrike ordered by former President Donald Trump in 2020. Safieddine’s son Reza Hashem Safieddine married the Iranian basic’s daughter, Zeinab Suleimani, later that yr. Moreover, Safieddine’s brother was described by the US Treasury Division as Hezbollah’s consultant to Iran.
What is going on in Lebanon now?
Israel is at present weighing its choices for retaliation after Iran’s largest-ever assault on its arch-enemy on Tuesday whereas hitting Beirut with new air strikes in its battle in opposition to Hezbollah. On Thursday, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, informed CNN his nation had “numerous choices” for retaliation and would present Tehran its energy “quickly”.
Israel stated Hezbollah launched about 230 rockets from Lebanon in the direction of Israel on Thursday. Hezbollah stated it focused what it referred to as Israel’s “Sakhnin base” for army industries in Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel with a salvo of rockets. It additionally focused Israel’s “Nesher base” in Haifa with a salvo of Fadi 2 rockets.
Israel, which has been combating Hamas within the Palestinian territory of Gaza for nearly a yr, despatched troops into southern Lebanon on Tuesday after two weeks of intense airstrikes in a worsening battle that has drawn in Iran and dangers involving the USA. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani additionally urged critical ceasefire efforts to cease what he referred to as Israel’s aggression.
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