A cousin and possible successor to Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader assassinated by Israel, Safieddine joined the group soon after it was formed and rose quickly up its ranks.

Hezbollah's presumed new leader Hashem Safieddine is missing after Israel Defense Forces targeted him in an aerial strike on Wednesday.

Hezbollah’s likely new leader Hashem Safieddine is like his late predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, a staunch critic of Israel and the West, with deep alliances with the Iranian leadership.