Top Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli airstrike. He was a strongman who rose through the ranks of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group over decades to become the second-most powerful person within the organization.

Hezbollah on Wednesday confirmed that Hashem Safieddine, a top official who was expected to be the next leader of the Lebanese militia and political party, was killed in Israeli airstrike, according to The Associated Press.

He was widely expected to be elected the group’s next leader after the death of Hassan Nasrallah, one of its founders.