On Tuesday, Israel confirmed it has eliminated Hashem Safieddine, the designated successor to Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli operation last month targeting the Iran-supported Lebanese militant faction.

The Israeli military stated that Safieddine was killed in an attack conducted three weeks ago in the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking their first official acknowledgment of his death. Earlier, they had suggested he was likely dead.

Hezbollah has yet to respond to Israel’s confirmation of Safieddine’s death.

Following a year of ongoing border conflicts with Hezbollah, Israel has intensified military actions, which include a series of strikes that have taken out several senior Hezbollah leaders. The group is Iran’s most heavily armed proxy force in the Middle East and has been actively supporting Palestinian factions against Israel in Gaza.

Safieddine was a relative of Nasrallah and held significant positions within Hezbollah, including on the Jihad Council, which manages military strategies, and the executive council, which oversees the group’s financial and administrative matters.

In the last year, Safieddine took on an important role as a spokesperson for Hezbollah, representing the group at various funerals and events that Nasrallah couldn’t attend due to security concerns.

Israeli airstrikes have been heavily targeting regions in southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and southern Beirut, all known to be Hezbollah strongholds. The group’s fighters are actively engaged in efforts to counter these Israeli ground operations.

Despite taking out multiple leaders from both Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel has not hinted at a pause in its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The September 27 airstrike that killed Nasrallah marked a significant moment for Israel.

Diplomatic sources suggest that Israel is trying to strengthen its position before a new U.S. administration takes office following the November 5 election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Blinken visits the Middle East

The news of Safieddine’s death coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he urged the Israeli leader to seize the moment following the killing of Hamas’ leader Yahya Sinwar by ensuring the release of hostages from the October 7 assault and bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza.

This visit marks Blinken’s 11th trip to the Middle East since the onset of the Gaza conflict, making it the final trip before a presidential election that could shift U.S. foreign policy.

He is also exploring strategies to ease tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where recent Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 18 deaths, including four children, along with 60 injuries near a state hospital in Beirut.

Blinken is facing significant challenges on both fronts.

He expressed U.S. expectations that Sinwar’s death, who was instrumental in orchestrating the deadly attacks from Gaza on October 7, 2023, could open doors for peace negotiations.

“The Secretary highlighted the importance of utilizing Israel’s successful operation to hold Yahya Sinwar accountable, by achieving the release of all hostages and resolving the conflict in Gaza in a manner that ensures lasting security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” according to a statement from the U.S. State Department after the meetings in Jerusalem.

In a statement from his office, Netanyahu claimed that Sinwar’s elimination “could positively influence the return of hostages, fulfilling the objectives of the war, and what follows afterward.”

However, there was no mention of any potential ceasefire following a prolonged conflict that has significantly diminished Hamas’ military capabilities and left much of Gaza in ruins, displacing most of its 2.3 million residents.

Israel’s Western allies view the killing of Sinwar as a potential opportunity for Netanyahu’s far-right government to assert that its goals have been met in Gaza.

Regardless, Israel maintains that it will continue its efforts until Hamas can no longer function as a military threat or governing authority in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas has refused to release any hostages taken during the October 7 raid unless Israel agrees to end its military operations and withdraw from the area.