A Lebanese security source said on Saturday that the man
thought likely to be taking over as Hezbollah's leader has
been out of contact since Friday. That's after an
Israeli air strike reportedly targeted Hashem Safi Din in Beirut's
southern suburbs late on Thursday. The security source and
two others said ongoing strikes have kept rescue workers from
scouring the site of the attack. An Israeli Lieutenant
Colonel said on Friday that the military was still assessing
the Thursday night airstrikes. He said they had targeted
Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters. Hezbollah has made no comment so
far on sin since the attack. Israeli strikes have
eliminated much of Hezbollah's senior military leadership that includes Hassan
Nasrallah killed on September 27. The loss of sin
. His rumored successor would be another blow to the
group and its patron. Iran. Israel has staged
a nightly targeting of Beirut's southern suburbs known as Dahiya
. It was once a bustling and densely populated area
of Beirut and also a Hezbollah stronghold, large parts
of the area have now been reduced to rubble.
Israel's assault in the country has killed hundreds of ordinary
Lebanese according to officials. Almost a quarter of the
population around 1.2 million people are said to have fled
their homes. The Lebanese government has accused Israel of
targeting civilians. Israel accuses Hezbollah and Hamas of hiding
among the population. It says it targets military capabilities
and takes steps to mitigate the risk of harm to
civilians in Beirut suburbs on Saturday, Abu Hussein held
up his dead pet birds. These he says are
the supposed weapons he had in his now destroyed home
, Israel, He says has violated humanity, human
rights and conscience. Also on Saturday, Israel expanded
its conflict in Lebanon with its first strike in the
northern city Tripoli. A Lebanese security official said the
attack on a Palestinian refugee camp killed a member of
Hamas, his wife and two Children. The Israeli
military did not comment on the strike.