On the 28th, Israeli sources confirmed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike, creating a brief “power vacuum” at the top of Hezbollah. According to reports from AFP and other media outlets on the 28th, senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safi al-Din, who has close ties with Iran, has emerged as a potential successor to his cousin, Hassan Nasrallah.
Highly Respected
According to AFP, insiders revealed that Safi al-Din’s “promotion” is “almost certain,” and this view is supported by Lebanese political analysts. Amal Saad, an expert in international relations at Cardiff University in the UK, stated that Nasrallah’s successor must be a member of Hezbollah’s highest decision-making body, the Shura Council, and must also be a highly respected religious figure. Safi al-Din fully meets these criteria. Saad remarked, “He (Safi al-Din) is highly respected and is the most likely contender.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that Safi al-Din shares almost the same family background and physical appearance as Nasrallah. Born in 1964 to a prominent family in Tyre, southern Lebanon, Safi al-Din comes from a clan that has produced many well-known Shia religious figures and politicians. In his early years, Safi al-Din studied theology with his cousin Nasrallah and pursued further studies in Najaf, Iraq, and the Shia holy city of Qom in Iran. Safi al-Din was one of the earliest members to join Hezbollah. He received specialized training in Iran and quickly became a core figure within Hezbollah, holding several key positions. In 1995, he was elevated to the Shura Council and later appointed chairman of the Executive Council. Additionally, as a close relative, Nasrallah took special care to groom his cousin by creating tailored roles for Safi al-Din in various committees, giving him opportunities for leadership development. Unlike his more reclusive cousin, Safi al-Din primarily manages Hezbollah’s “day-to-day affairs”—such as social services, education, and propaganda—requiring him to frequently appear in public and participate in gatherings.
Strong Ties to Iran
Safi al-Din not only comes from a prominent family but also has close ties with Iran, making him a figure with “deep connections” within Hezbollah. According to the “Kayhan Life” website, his brother, Abdullah Safi al-Din, is Hezbollah’s special representative in Iran.
In addition to studying in Iran, Safi al-Din is also related by marriage to Iran’s late top military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in January 2020. In June 2020, Safi al-Din’s son, Reza, had a high-profile wedding that was widely covered by Iranian and Lebanese media because his bride, Zainab, is Soleimani’s daughter. Analysts view the marriage as a typical “political union,” clearly intended to underscore the alliance and shared stance against external enemies. According to Turkey’s “Independent” newspaper, Safi al-Din was actually designated as Nasrallah’s successor as early as 2008, with strong backing from Iran. In November 2010, he was further appointed as Hezbollah’s military commander in southern Lebanon.
Although Safi al-Din has been groomed extensively, Nasrallah’s dominance and strong presence have kept those under him relatively obscure. Lebanese media have reported that after Nasrallah’s death, Hezbollah will need to hold elections to choose its next leader. Reports suggest that Safi al-Din is widely regarded as the most likely candidate, as he is the most competitive and widely accepted by the public. Some analysts argue that Hezbollah’s 71-year-old deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, lacks real power and has only a nominal role. Moreover, his relationship with Nasrallah has been lukewarm. Although Qassem might temporarily succeed Nasrallah, he is expected to ultimately lose to Safi al-Din.
Known for Criticizing the U.S. Government
Though Safi al-Din has a scholarly demeanor, he is also known for his hardline stance, especially in his rhetoric against the U.S. and Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post, Safi al-Din has long held a disdainful attitude toward the U.S. He directly criticized the U.S. government and its leaders in 2017, calling them “insane” and “mad,” and stated that U.S. pressure on Hezbollah “only strengthens our resolve.” In 2017, the U.S. State Department added Safi al-Din to its list of “terrorists,” and he was sanctioned by the U.S. and several Arab countries the following year.
Recently, in a speech in Beirut, Safi al-Din expressed unwavering support for Palestine, saying, “Our history and our weapons stand with you.” According to The Economist, at a funeral for a Hezbollah commander in June, Safi al-Din vowed to prepare the enemies for “mourning and wailing,” directing his anger at Israel.
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