Sun Sep 29 22:46:29 UTC 2024: ## Lebanon: Hashim Safi al-Din to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah Leader
**Beirut, Lebanon:** Following reports of Hassan Nasrallah’s death in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Hashim Safi al-Din, Nasrallah’s cousin, is set to take over as the leader of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah. Safi al-Din, who has been with the group for over three decades, has been widely considered as Nasrallah’s successor since the 1990s.
While initial reports suggested Safi al-Din was also killed in the airstrikes, Reuters reported, citing a Hezbollah source, that he is alive. Safi al-Din, known for his physical resemblance to Nasrallah, joined Hezbollah alongside his cousin during the group’s early days. Born in 1964 in southern Lebanon, he has been actively involved in the group’s political affairs and is a member of the Jihad Council.
His ties with the Iranian regime are cemented through his marriage to Zainab Soleimani, daughter of slain Iranian military general Qasem Soleimani.
Safi al-Din, who was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2017, is also known for his role in supporting the Syrian regime. His involvement in the Syrian conflict earned him a place on Saudi Arabia’s blacklist in the same year.
This development marks a significant shift in the leadership of Hezbollah, a powerful organization with significant political influence in Lebanon. The group’s future trajectory under Safi al-Din’s leadership remains uncertain, but his strong ties to Iran and his involvement in the region’s political and military landscape suggest a continuation of Hezbollah’s current course.
First Piper 