Israel claims to have killed Hezbollah official expected to be group’s next leader

The Israeli military announced that a recent airstrike outside Beirut killed a top Hezbollah official, Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to be the group’s next leader. The militant group has not confirmed his fate. Safieddine was a powerful cleric within Hezbollah and was set to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a previous airstrike. Israel claimed that Safieddine was killed along with 25 other Hezbollah leaders in early October. The recent airstrikes have left Hezbollah in disarray, with the group’s leadership being targeted. The Israeli military also conducted airstrikes in a Beirut suburb, targeting Hezbollah facilities. The group has claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Israeli Prime Minister’s home and hinted at future strikes.