After Hassan Nasrallah’s killing, anticipation for Hezbollah’s new chief. Media outlets and experts named Hashem Safieddine as the likely successor. He has been part of Hezbollah since the group's founding in 1982. Incumbently, Hashem is the chief of Hezbollah’s Executive Council.
The Executive Council coordinates political and civilian affairs. These include education, health, economics, trade unions and communications. Hashem also sits on the Jihad Council, which manages the military operations.
A cousin of Nasrallah, Hashem was born in 1964 in southern Lebanon’s Tyre. He studied theology in Iraq & Iran alongside his maternal cousin Nasrallah. He was summoned back to Beirut in 1994 to head the Executive Council.
Hashem's son is married to daughter of the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. In July, he weighed in on how Hezbollah views its leadership succession.
Iranian outlet Khoursid reported he was designated as the next leader in 2008. In 2007 US & Saudi Arabia put Hashem on lists of designated terrorists. After Nasrallah's killing, his deputy Naim Qassem took over the leadership. After Nasrallah's death, the Shura Council must meet to elect a new chief.