Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah’s Wafiq Safa is in Critical Condition

Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa (L) talks with Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar (R) as Druze Democratic Party chief Talal Arslan (2nd R) looks on after offering their condolences to Bassam Qantar (2nd L), the brother of Lebanese Hezbollah militant leader Samir Qantar who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus early on Sunday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban/File Photo
Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa (L) talks with Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar (R) as Druze Democratic Party chief Talal Arslan (2nd R) looks on after offering their condolences to Bassam Qantar (2nd L), the brother of Lebanese Hezbollah militant leader Samir Qantar who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus early on Sunday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban/File Photo
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah’s Wafiq Safa is in Critical Condition

Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa (L) talks with Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar (R) as Druze Democratic Party chief Talal Arslan (2nd R) looks on after offering their condolences to Bassam Qantar (2nd L), the brother of Lebanese Hezbollah militant leader Samir Qantar who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus early on Sunday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban/File Photo
Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa (L) talks with Hezbollah parliament member Ali Ammar (R) as Druze Democratic Party chief Talal Arslan (2nd R) looks on after offering their condolences to Bassam Qantar (2nd L), the brother of Lebanese Hezbollah militant leader Samir Qantar who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus early on Sunday, in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban/File Photo

A senior Lebanese security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s Coordination and Liaison Officer, is in critical condition following a severe injury from an Israeli airstrike targeting his location in a densely populated residential area of Beirut.

The strike killed and injured dozens, but Lebanese security agencies have not confirmed whether Safa has died or remains alive.

Safa had long been the key link between Lebanese security and political forces and Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel last month.

According to the US State Department, Safa, sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019, acted as a communication channel between Hezbollah and Lebanese security forces and headed Hezbollah’s security apparatus, reporting directly to Nasrallah.

Washington accuses Safa of exploiting Lebanese ports and border crossings for smuggling and undermining Lebanon’s security and economy.

Born in 1960 in Zebdine, southern Lebanon, Safa joined Hezbollah in 1984 and became head of the security committee in 1987. He played a pivotal role in the 2000 negotiations after three Israeli soldiers were captured, and in the 2008 prisoner exchange between Hezbollah and Israel. His prominence increased after Syrian forces withdrew from Lebanon in 2005, as he helped reorganize Hezbollah’s security.

In September 2021, Safa made headlines after threatening Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator of the Beirut port explosion, with removal from the case.

Hezbollah opposition activist Ali Al-Amin described Safa as having significant connections to security agencies and political forces but noted that he is not one of Hezbollah’s top security officials, whose identities often remain undisclosed.



Jordan Rejects Attempts of 'Some Parties' to Violate its Airspace

Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Jordan Rejects Attempts of 'Some Parties' to Violate its Airspace

Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Projectile flies in the sky over Jordan after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, as seen from Amman, Jordan October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

Jordan rejected on Saturday all attempts to involve the country in the regional conflict by violating its airspace, Petra, the news agency of Jordan said on Saturday.
Jordan’s government official spokesperson, Dr. Mohammed al-Momani stressed in a statement that Jordan rejects attempts by “some parties in the region” to violate its airspace, especially by launching drones.
He said some of these drones have entered the Kingdom's airspace and parts and structures of which fell inside Jordanian territory recently.
He described these breaches as a significant "threat", assuring that Jordan’s armed forces will not hesitate to address such breaches according to its military rules of engagement.
The Kingdom is implementing all "necessary" measures to confront these violations effectively, Momani said.
Over the past two months, an exchange of projectiles between Iran and Iraqi factions on one side, and Israel on the other, flew in the sky over Jordan. Jordan is located at the midpoint between the two.