Barran Press
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, Reuters reported that intensive Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut had hindered rescue efforts following a suspected attack that may have killed Hezbollah's potential new leader, Hashim Safi al-Din.
According to three Lebanese security sources quoted by the agency, communication with Safi al-Din has been lost since the strikes on Friday. He was widely expected to succeed the group's longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was reportedly killed in the attack.
A Lebanese security source confirmed the loss of contact, stating, "Hezbollah has not been able to reach its Executive Council head, Hashim Safi al-Din, after the intense Israeli bombardment on the southern suburbs of Beirut early Friday morning."
The source indicated that Safi al-Din was in an underground location when he was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in the Marjieh area. He added that Israeli drones have been striking rescue teams since Friday, preventing them from accessing the targeted region.
The source emphasized that Israel has informed international parties of its refusal to allow rescue teams into the strike zone in Marjieh, noting that diplomatic efforts are underway to permit access for rescue teams to the site of the attack on Safi al-Din.
Late Thursday into Friday, Lebanese state media reported a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking one of the heaviest assaults on Hezbollah’s stronghold since the Israeli campaign began on September 23.
Media sources indicated that the Israeli military targeted a meeting in the southern suburbs that included Hezbollah leaders and Iranian officials.
Israeli Channel 12 confirmed that the "unprecedented" attacks in the suburbs aimed to target "Nasrallah's successor."