mtv
Many Hezbollah fans were joking that the phrase “May the Hajj bless you” was capable of achieving miracles. What is meant by “Hajj” is Wafiq Safa, whose resignation from his position in the party was announced yesterday.
Safa is considered one of the most famous figures in the history of God’s war, even though his duties are related to politics and security rather than the military. He was born in 1960 in Zabdine, Nabatieh, and has belonged to Hezbollah since 1984, and was in the leadership ranks within the organization for a long time.
The most prominent position Safa held was heading the Liaison and Coordination Unit, a unit that has a central role in coordination with the security services and the Lebanese and political authorities. It was established in the late eighties of the last century, specifically in 1987, when what was known as the “Security Committee” or the “Security and Coordination Committee” in Hezbollah was reorganized into what became known as the “Liaison and Coordination Unit.”
The leadership of the unit was assigned to Wafiq Safa from its founding until recently, and the man remained in this position for more than three decades, representing the security authority and political security of the party.
Safa played a role in negotiations to release prisoners and detainees between Hezbollah and Israel in previous years, including 2004 and 2008.
He was in charge of the file of relations with the Lebanese security and judicial services, which made him a link between Hezbollah and the rest of the official institutions.
He faced widespread criticism in Lebanon, especially because of his statements and interference in judicial cases, such as threats towards the judge in charge of investigating the 2020 Beirut Port explosion.
Information indicates that Safa’s powers have diminished in recent months, in light of many comments on his performance in the past two years. Note that Hezbollah officials were disturbed by Safa’s relationship with the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, as he was the person closest to MP Gebran Bassil.
It should be noted that Safa was placed on the US administration’s sanctions list (OFAC) for his links to Hezbollah’s security role and activities accused of facilitating the movement of party members across borders and crossings.
