The radical Shiite movement Hezbollah has appointed Safi al-Din as its new leader, following the death of long-time figurehead Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Safi al-Din, the cousin of Nasrallah and son-in-law of slain Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, was named the successor on Sunday, September 29, as reported by El Balad and Al Arabiya.
Biography of the New Leader
Born in 1964 in Deir Qanun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon, Hachem Safi al-Din co-founded Hezbollah in 1982. He studied alongside Nasrallah in Najaf, Iraq, and Qom, Iran. In 1994, he was appointed head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, following Nasrallah’s ascension to the movement’s leadership.
Influence and Career
For nearly three decades, Safi al-Din managed Hezbollah’s internal affairs, keeping a low public profile while Nasrallah crafted the movement’s broader strategy. He has been a key figure behind the scenes of the organization’s operations.
In 2017, the U.S. State Department designated Safi al-Din as a terrorist, and sanctions against him were imposed the following year.
The appointment of Hezbollah’s new leader comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and continued Israeli strikes on the group’s positions. Whether this leadership change will alter Hezbollah’s strategy in its conflict with Israel remains to be seen.
