Nasrallah, 64, had been on the helm of the militant Lebanese group for 32 years. His cousin Hashem Safieddine is among the many frontrunners to take over.
Nasrallah’s youthful cousin was born within the southern Lebanese village of Deir Qanoun En Nahr close to Tyre in 1960.
The younger males studied theology collectively at two Shia establishments – one in Najaf, Iraq and the opposite in Qom, Iran.
They’re seen from their supporters to be from a well-respected Shia household that has produced each non secular students and Lebanese politicians.
Safieddine’s brother is Hezbollah’s consultant to Iran, whereas his son is married to the daughter of Qassem Soleimani – the Iranian common killed in a US drone strike throughout Donald Trump’s presidency in 2020.
Picture:
In Beirut in October 2023. Pic: Reuters
Like his cousin, Safieddine joined Hezbollah quickly after it was arrange within the early Eighties.
He additionally wears a black turban, as Nasrallah did, denoting being a direct descendant from the Prophet Muhammad.
Safieddine’s household ties and his shut resemblance to his late cousin will seemingly assist his management bid, specialists say.
He’s already the pinnacle of Hezbollah’s Jihad council and among the many prime members of its Shura council.
Picture:
In Dahieh, southern Beirut, in January 2022. Pic: AP
Identified for his militant views, he’s accountable for the group’s political affairs.
At a latest occasion in Dahieh, the place this week’s airstrikes befell, he mentioned in assist of Hamas in Gaza: “Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you.”
And at a funeral of one in every of his fellow commanders in June he appeared to threaten additional escalation of the battle with Israel, declaring: “Let [the enemy] prepare himself to cry and wail.”
The US designated Safieddine a terrorist in 2017. Saudi Arabia additionally classifies him as a terrorist.
He has at all times been a vocal critic of US coverage, declaring that 12 months: “This mentally impeded, crazy US administration headed by Trump will not be able to harm the resistance.”
