Where’s Hashem Safieddine? Hezbollah 'loses' contact with Nasrallah's likely successor

Hezbollah has lost contact with one of its senior leaders, Hashem Safieddine, who was seen as a possible successor to slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, since Friday after an Israeli air strike, a Lebanese security source told foreign media outlet Al Jazeera.

As the chairman of the armed group’s Executive Council, Safieddine is a very high-ranking member of the organisation. 

He is a cousin of the late Nasrallah, the former secretary-general.

Hezbollah has not officially commented on the status of Safieddine since the attack.

Israel launched an intense bombing campaign across Lebanon two weeks ago.

Last week, Israel launched a “limited ground operation” into southern Lebanon while intensifying air strikes in the area and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

More than 2,000 people have been killed during Israel’s intense bombardment on the country and forced 1.2 million people to flee their homes, account to Lebanon health ministry data.