Israeli Airstrike in Beirut Targets Senior Hezbollah Figure: Reports

According to reports by U.S. and Israeli media, an Israeli airstrike purportedly targeted a key Hezbollah figure, Hashem Safieddine, in Beirut. Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli source, stated on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that Safieddine was the intended target.

Hashem Safieddine is a senior official within Hezbollah and has been considered a potential successor to the group’s assassinated leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The strike reportedly occurred on Wednesday, targeting a bunker in Beirut. Despite multiple media reports, the status of Safieddine, whether he survived the strike or not, remains unclear.

Verification of these claims is challenging, as Reuters could not confirm the details from the social media post. Furthermore, there has been no immediate statement from Israeli or Lebanese officials regarding the incident, leaving the situation undetermined.

A week before, Israel made significant strikes that resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, a leader known for his influence and prominence within what is described as Iran‘s “Axis of Resistance,” an alliance of groups allied with Tehran stretching from Syria to the Persian Gulf.

This recent strike comes amid increasing tensions in the region, with an Israeli ground invasion launched in Lebanon earlier, while Iran retaliated by firing a barrage of missiles into Israeli territory. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful militant group supported by Iran, continues to unsettle the region.

In response to the initial reports, Newsweek attempted to contact the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for confirmation or commentary on the reported strike but received no immediate reply. As of now, the situation remains under close watch by international observers.