The situation surrounding Hashem Safieddine, who is viewed as the potential successor to the late Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, remains uncertain as he has reportedly been unreachable following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday.

According to sources cited by news agency Reuters, Safieddine has not been contacted since the strike. Ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh have hindered rescue operations, preventing workers from accessing the site of the attack.

Israel's airstrikes, launched late Thursday, represent one of the most intense bombardments in the area since the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah. Reports suggest the attacks coincided with a meeting of Hezbollah leaders, including Safieddine, in an underground bunker. Sources close to Hezbollah have indicated that Safieddine sustained severe injuries during the strikes, but neither Hezbollah nor the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed his current status.

Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated that the military is still evaluating the airstrikes, which were aimed at Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. On Saturday, Israel intensified its military actions in Lebanon with a strike on the northern city of Tripoli, following additional airstrikes targeting Beirut suburbs and ground raids in southern Lebanon.

Who is Hashem Safieddine?

Hashem Safieddine, designated a terrorist by the United States, is a prominent leader within Hezbollah, heavily involved in both its political and military operations. He is a cousin of Hassan Nasrallah and is regarded as the group’s second-in-command, maintaining strong connections with Iran. Safieddine is also a member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council and has held several influential roles in the organization's leadership, including some that are less publicly visible but strategically significant.

In addition to his leadership roles, Safieddine has often acted as a spokesperson for Hezbollah, representing the group on various occasions. Many of Hezbollah's senior military leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, were reportedly killed in an airstrike at the group's headquarters in Beirut on September 27.