On Saturday evening, Hezbollah officially addressed reports concerning the fate of its leadership following the Israeli occupation’s bombing of southern Beirut, particularly in relation to senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safi al-Din, whom the occupation claimed was targeted in an airstrike last Thursday.
In a press release, Hezbollah’s Public Relations Department stated, “Some media outlets are publishing reports attributed to sources within Hezbollah regarding the fate of its leaders following the brutal airstrikes on southern Beirut.”
The statement added, “The most recent of these outlets is Agence France-Presse, which attributed its reports to high-ranking sources within Hezbollah.” The statement emphasized, “We do not have any sources in Hezbollah who make statements to the media. Our official position is released through an official statement issued by the Media Relations Department.”
The statement further noted that “certain media outlets, especially some websites, have published false reports and baseless rumors regarding the organizational status of several senior Hezbollah officials.” These reports, it said, “fall within the scope of psychological warfare aimed at the resistance’s supporters by those who have devoted their pens, tongues, and platforms to serve the Zionist occupation.”
Earlier, Lebanese security sources revealed to Reuters the possible fate of senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safi al-Din following a brutal attack on southern Beirut late Thursday/early Friday.
The sources said communication has been severed with Safi al-Din since Friday, making it impossible to reach him after the violent airstrikes carried out by the occupation’s aircraft on southern Beirut.
Three Lebanese security sources told Reuters on Saturday that intense Israeli strikes on southern Beirut since yesterday have prevented rescue teams from sweeping suspected sites, which may have led to the assassination of Hezbollah’s potential new leader, Hashem Safi al-Din.
One security source reported that contact was lost with Safi al-Din after Friday’s strike.
Earlier, Axios reported, citing three Israeli officials, that an Israeli airstrike in the early hours of Friday targeted Safi al-Din.
The Israeli occupation forces launched over 25 airstrikes on southern Beirut late Thursday into Friday, described as the most intense since the beginning of the bombardment.
