The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the elimination of Hisham Safieddine, Head of Hezbollah's Executive Council and cousin to former leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a precision strike conducted approximately three weeks ago in Beirut's Dahieh district, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

Safieddine was elected by the group's "Shura council" to replace Nasrallah as the new Hezbollah chief. Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah's Intelligence Headquarters, was eliminated in the same strike. The operation targeted an underground intelligence facility deliberately positioned beneath civilian infrastructure, the IDF announced.

The strike resulted in the elimination of over 25 Hezbollah operatives, including Bilal Saib Aish, who headed aerial intelligence gathering operations in Syria. Safieddine had previously served as acting Secretary-General during Nasrallah's absences from Lebanon.

On the morning of October 23, military operations in Lebanon continued. "Anyone who is near Hezbollah's people, their facilities and their means of warfare - puts their lives in danger," announced an IDF spokesman in Arabic to residents of the Tzur area, urging immediate evacuation north of the Havli River.

The IDF expanded its operations to target Hezbollah's Unit 127, focusing on UAV warehouses and personnel. The unit has been identified as responsible for developing and launching both explosive and surveillance drones into Israeli territory.

Confirmation of Safieddine’s death justifies the decision of Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem to flee Lebanon and reside in Tehran, where he has reportedly been located since early October.

An anonymous Iranian source told Erem News that Qassem left Beirut on October 5 on an Iranian flight with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stopping in Damascus before continuing to Tehran.

The move was reportedly ordered by high-ranking Iranian officials due to Qassem's presence on an Israeli wanted list, the source said and comes as Iran attempts to rebuild its so-called “Axis of Resistance” against Israel after multiple deaths including the top leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas.  

Beirut has become increasingly unsafe in recent months due to the ongoing assault by Israel over the city, IntelliNews correspondent confirmed with several areas of the city and wider Lebanon being struck repeatedly.

Qassem has made three public appearances since the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on September 27.

While his first speech on September 30 was delivered from Beirut, the subsequent two on October 8 and October 15 were made from Iran, according to the source.