Israeli Defense Minister: Hezbollah is a Headless Organization
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that Hezbollah is currently “without a head,” following the elimination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and his presumed successor. Gallant made these remarks to officers at the military’s northern command, suggesting that Hezbollah is now leaderless and unable to make decisions. His statement follows recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut that targeted both Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, another top Hezbollah figure and head of its executive council.
Israel struck Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, where Safieddine was believed to be present. The Israeli military is still investigating the results of the strike, with Hezbollah keeping details under wraps. According to the IDF spokesman, the public will be updated once confirmed information is available.
Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah since 1992, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, and a subsequent strike targeted Safieddine on October 3. Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah, had been seen as his likely successor. He played a significant role in Hezbollah’s operations, especially in political affairs and public appearances during Nasrallah’s later years, when he avoided such events for security reasons. Safieddine had close ties to Iran and was designated a terrorist by the U.S. in 2017.
Tensions have escalated in the region as Hezbollah remains a central actor in the ongoing conflict, further complicating the situation after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.