Israel Strikes at Hezbollah Leaders as Attacks on North Intensify

Latest Developments

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on October 8 that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “probably” eliminated senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who was poised to replace Hezbollah’s slain Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike on October 3. Last week, the IDF launched a strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb — a Hezbollah stronghold — targeting an underground bunker in which Safieddine was believed to be sheltering. Safieddine has not been heard from since. Citing Israeli security sources, Israeli media reported on October 4 that Safieddine was likely killed. Gallant upheld this assessment on October 8, stating that “Hezbollah is an organization without a leader, Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated.”

In addition to Safieddine, the IDF eliminated Suhail Hussein Husseini, the commander of Hezbollah’s Beirut headquarters, in a targeted strike on October 8.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah intensified its attacks against Israel. On October 8, the Iran-backed terror group showered Haifa with a salvo of more than 100 rockets. Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted most of the rockets, but some detonated in the Haifa suburbs of Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Motzkin. An elderly Israeli women sustained shrapnel wounds, and several homes were damaged.

The same day, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, delivered a televised address in which he affirmed that the terror group is “striking them” and “hurting them,” adding that “dozens of cities are within range of the resistance’s missiles.” Qassem further insisted that Hezbollah’s “capabilities are fine” and that the group’s leadership remains intact. “We have no vacant posts,” he said.

Additionally, Qassem stated that Hezbollah supports the efforts of Lebanese political leaders to negotiate a ceasefire but that Hezbollah will not be the first to lay down its arms. “If the enemy [Israel] continues its war, then the battlefield will decide,” Qassem explained. In contrast to Hezbollah’s previous statements, Qassem did not specify that a ceasefire in Gaza is a precondition to a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Expert Analysis

“Israel shows no signs of wavering from its goal of bringing Hezbollah to its knees, as demonstrated by its strikes on October 7 that eliminated 50 terrorists, including six field commanders. At the same time, the blows that Hezbollah has sustained in recent weeks have not destroyed its field operations. The Iran-backed organization is facing unprecedented pressure, which is why Qassem is intimating his support for a ceasefire. That poses a dilemma for Israel — can it live with a humbled, weakened Hezbollah, knowing that Iran can help its proxy to rebuild? And can Israel accept a ceasefire arrangement that ignores the demands of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandates Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River along with its complete disarmament?” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Qassem’s words should not be taken as a change of heart by Hezbollah. Its objective remains the same: to halt Israel’s degradation of its assets and those of Hamas, so it can rebuild and prepare to continue its war against Israel at a future date. Until then, as Qassem said, Hezbollah will continue to attack Israel so that when the war ends, the group can claim victory and thus shore up its public support.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow

Related Analysis

“Road to the Third Lebanon War: Mapping Hezbollah’s War of Attrition Since October 8, 2023,” by David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi

“Analysis: The impact of Israeli operations on Hezbollah’s organizational structure,” by David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi

“IDF Targets Nasrallah Successor, Destroys Hezbollah Weapons Smuggling Tunnel,” FDD Flash Brief