Israel's Targeting of Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine: A Shift in Strategy
In a significant escalation of its military operations, Israel has recently targeted Hashem Safieddine, the head of the executive council of Hezbollah, marking a notable shift in its assassination policy. This move reflects an intention to dismantle Hezbollah as a whole rather than merely removing its leadership. According to Lebanese security sources, Hezbollah lost contact with Safieddine amid intense Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut early Friday morning.
Political analysts, including Ihab Jabareen, suggest that Israel's new strategy indicates a more comprehensive approach to its operations against Hezbollah. Historically, Israel focused on middle-level leaders, but the current strategy aims at what Jabareen describes as “assassinating the party as a whole.” This shift is characterized by systematic targeting of key figures within Hezbollah, indicating a deeper commitment to undermining the organization’s structure.
Abdul Sater, another political analyst, emphasizes that this approach is designed to create an atmosphere of terror and showcase Israel's capability to eliminate multiple targets simultaneously. He points out that the targeting of leaders like Nasrallah is aimed at disrupting the foundational elements of Hezbollah, which has garnered significant support among Arab and Islamic populations.
As tensions escalate, Hezbollah has demonstrated its military capabilities, launching over 750 rockets in a week, and expanding its targeting range to include cities in northern Israel. This rapid military response serves as a warning to Israel, indicating that Hezbollah's missile capabilities may exceed Israeli estimates. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with reports of approximately 2,000 deaths and widespread displacement in Lebanon since the onset of Israeli raids on September 23.
