Hashem Safieddine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hashem Safieddine
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هاشم صفي الدين
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Safieddine in 2020
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| Head of Hezbollah's Executive Council | |
| In office July 2001 – 3 October 2024 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 Deir Qanoun En Nahr, Lebanon |
| Died | c. 3 October 2024 (aged 59–60) Dahieh, Lebanon |
| Political party | Hezbollah |
| Spouse | Raeda Faqih |
| Relatives |
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Hashem Safieddine (born 1964, died around October 3, 2024) was a significant leader in Hezbollah, a political and military group in Lebanon. He served as the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council from 2001 until his death. Many considered him the second most powerful person in Hezbollah, after its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was also his cousin.
In October 2024, Safieddine was targeted in an airstrike in Beirut. After some time, it was confirmed that he had died.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hashem Safieddine was born in 1964 in a town called Deir Qanoun En Nahr in southern Lebanon. He came from a respected Shia Muslim family.
He studied religious subjects, known as theology, in two important cities: Najaf, Iraq, and Qom, Iran. He studied alongside his cousin, Hassan Nasrallah. In 1994, Nasrallah asked him to return to Lebanon.
Leadership Role in Hezbollah
In 1995, Safieddine was promoted to the Majlis al-Shura, which is the highest council in Hezbollah. He also became the head of the Jihad Council. The Executive Council, which he led, was in charge of Hezbollah's political, social, and educational activities.
Before Nasrallah's death in September 2024, Safieddine was considered one of the top three leaders of Hezbollah. He was often seen as the second most important person after Nasrallah.
In 2006, some reports suggested that Iran saw Safieddine as a possible future leader of Hezbollah. He was one of six religious scholars who were members of Hezbollah's Shura Council. In 2001, he was elected to lead the executive council, also known as Shura Tanfiziyah. He was also one of nine members of the deciding consultative council (Shura al-Qarar), which is the group's main decision-making body.
In October 2008, Safieddine was chosen to potentially succeed Nasrallah as the secretary general of Hezbollah. His appointment as a likely future leader was supported by Iranians. In 2009, he was again elected to the Shura Council. In November 2010, he was named Hezbollah's military commander for the Southern Lebanon region.
International Sanctions
In May 2017, the U.S. Department of State labeled Safieddine a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist." This meant that the United States saw him as a threat. Saudi Arabia also designated him as a terrorist.
In May 2018, Safieddine and nine other senior Hezbollah figures, including Nasrallah, faced sanctions from the U.S. and several Arab allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These sanctions aimed to limit their financial activities. In 2020, the U.S. also sanctioned two companies in Lebanon, Arch Consulting and Meamar Construction. These companies were said to be connected to Hezbollah's Executive Council and accused of helping to move money to Hezbollah leaders.
After Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024, Safieddine was seen as a top candidate to become the new leader. He was known for looking and speaking similarly to Nasrallah. He also had strong connections with the Iranian government and its leader, Ali Khamenei. Immediately after Nasrallah's death, some news outlets reported that Safieddine had been officially named as the new leader, but Hezbollah denied this.
Death
On the night of October 3, 2024, an Israeli Air Force strike targeted Safieddine in Dahieh, a suburb of Beirut that is a Hezbollah stronghold. The airstrike hit an underground bunker where another Hezbollah intelligence chief was also believed to be. Hezbollah stated that they had lost contact with Safieddine after the strike.
On October 22, the Israeli military confirmed his death, stating that his body had been found. Hezbollah also confirmed his death the next day.
Personal Life
Safieddine was married to Raeda Faqih. In June 2020, their oldest son, Reza, married Zeinab Soleimani, who is the youngest daughter of the Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani.
See also
In Spanish: Hashim Safi Al Din para niños
- Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)
