Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine Emerges as Likely Successor to Hassan Nasrallah's Leadership

Hashem Safieddine, a key figure closely linked to Hezbollah, is seen as a front-runner to assume the leadership role following the death of his cousin Hassan Nasrallah. This development comes amidst the significant political landscape within the Shiite Muslim movement, which has strong ties to Iran. Safieddine, in his late 50s or early 60s, bears a notable resemblance to Nasrallah, having inherited his charisma and influence within Hezbollah.

The Most Likely Candidate

According to a source close to Hezbollah, Safieddine is considered the ‘most likely’ candidate for the party’s top position. He holds a prominent role as a member of Hezbollah's powerful decision-making Shura Council and has been designated as a ‘terrorist’ by the United States and Saudi Arabia since 2017. The U.S. Treasury has identified him as ‘a senior leader’ in Hezbollah and ‘a key member’ of its executive.

Connection to Iran

Safieddine has strong ties with Iran, having pursued religious studies in Qom, the holy city. Additionally, his familial connection is evident, as his son is married to the daughter of General Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm, who was killed in a 2020 U.S strike in Iraq. Safieddine, bearing the title of Sayyed and marked by his black turban, is recognized as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, similar to Nasrallah. Unlike Nasrallah, who preferred to remain concealed from public view, Safieddine has publicly participated in various political and religious events.

Authority and Rhetoric

Typically maintaining a composed demeanor, Safieddine has intensified his rhetoric during funerals for Hezbollah fighters who have perished in cross-border conflicts with Israel. Nasrallah, during these events, emphasized the support extended by Hezbollah to Palestinian Hamas militants engaged in combat with Israel in Gaza. Amal Saad, a researcher at Cardiff University, recognized Safieddine's positioning as the strongest contender for the leadership role, citing his authority and influential standing within Hezbollah's Shura Council.

Hezbollah, initially formed with the initiative of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, got its designation as "the Resistance" by combating Israeli forces in the occupation of southern Lebanon until 2000. The movement emerged during the Lebanese civil war, following Israel's siege of the capital Beirut in 1982. In a speech delivered in Beirut's southern suburbs, Safieddine acknowledged Hezbollah's view on leadership succession, emphasizing the continuity of the organization’s mission despite the loss of a leader.