Hashem Safi al-Din, Possible Successor to Nasrallah; He is on the U.S. 'Terrorist List'

The killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Israeli airstrikes on Friday in the suburbs of Beirut, has brought Hashem Safi al-Din, his possible successor, into the spotlight. Hezbollah, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, confirmed on Saturday, October 7, that Hassan Nasrallah, who had been the group's Secretary-General for 32 years, was killed in the Israeli attack. Following this heavy blow in its 42-year history, the militant group now faces the challenge of selecting a new leader. Reuters reports that Hashem Safi al-Din, as the head of the Executive Council, oversees Hezbollah's political affairs. He is also a member of the Jihad Council, which manages the group's military operations. Safi al-Din is a relative of Nasrallah and, like him, is a cleric with a black turban, indicating descent from the Prophet Muhammad. The U.S. State Department designated Safi al-Din as a terrorist in 2017. Recently, after the killing of one of Hezbollah's commanders, he threatened Israel with a significant response. Most of Safi al-Din's public statements reflect Hezbollah's militant positions and alignment with Palestinian causes. Recently, he reiterated Hezbollah's solidarity with Palestinian fighters in Dahieh, Hezbollah's base in southern Beirut. Philip Smith, an expert on this Iran-backed group, states that Nasrallah created various positions for Safi al-Din within Hezbollah's structure and assigned him responsibilities, some of which are quite ambiguous. Safi al-Din's family relations and physical resemblance to Nasrallah, as well as his religious position as a descendant of Muhammad, are considered advantages for him. He is also a serious critic of U.S. policies. In 2017, he stated that the pressure from the then U.S. government on Hezbollah strengthens the group's 'determination.' Senior policy advisor for the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' coalition: Israel has eliminated a generation of Hezbollah's leadership. Israeli Foreign Minister: Nasrallah deserved to die. Reactions from Iranian users to Nasrallah's death: We will dance on your graves. Israeli army: Nasrallah's death makes the world a safer place. Confirmation of reports regarding the killing of the IRGC's operations deputy in the Israeli attack; Netanyahu's dealers had threatened him. New York Times: Israel knew about Nasrallah's location months before the attack. Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah's death.