Hezbollah mourns its Executive Council chief after ‘criminal Zionist air strike’

Hezbollah has reported the death of Executive Council leader Sayyed Hashem Safieddine in “a criminal and aggressive Zionist air strike,” Quds Press reported citing a statement by the Lebanese group.

Hezbollah announced yesterday that Sayyed Hashem had passed away and joined his brother, the late Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel on 27 September. They described Sayyed Hashem as a defender of God’s religion, pious, righteous, a pioneer, a leader and a martyr.

Hezbollah’s statement emphasised that Safieddine had led the Executive Council and its various institutions for many years and pledged to continue on the path of resistance and jihad until it achieves the goals of freedom and victory.

Safieddine was killed along with 23 of his comrades, including Hussein Ali Hazeima, head of Hezbollah’s intelligence unit, in an air strike in the southern suburb of Beirut nearly three weeks ago, Lebanese media reported.

PROFILES: Who was Hashem Safieddine, once seen as the future Hezbollah leader?