Hezbollah confirms Hashem Safieddine, heir apparent to Nasrallah, martyred in Israeli attack

Hezbollah on Wednesday confirmed the martyrdom of Hashem Safieddine, the top Hezbollah official widely expected to succeed slain secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli attack.

Israel on Tuesday claimed it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the heir apparent to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was previously killed in an attack.

The Israeli military said Safieddine was killed in a strike carried out three weeks ago in Beirut’s southern suburbs, its first confirmation of his death.

The statement further claimed that over 25 Hezbollah commanders were present at headquarters at the time of the airstrike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier hinted at Safieddine's elimination in an address to the Lebanese people.

"We took out thousands of terrorists, including Hassan Nasrallah himself, Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of his replacement." he had said.

Earlier, it was reported that Hashem had lost contact with the Lebanese resistance group.

Safieddinesafie, who was also a member of Hezbollah's decision-making body, was considered the "most likely" candidate for the party's top job due to his good relations with Iran.