Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrike
Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that devastated parts of Beirut. Nasrallah, who led the Lebanese militant group for over three decades, transformed Hezbollah into one of the most formidable paramilitary forces in the Middle East.
On Saturday, Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, which occurred in a raid that destroyed six apartment buildings in Beirut. Here’s a closer look at Nasrallah’s life and his influence on the region.
The Rise of Hezbollah’s Leader
Born in 1960 in a poor Shiite family in Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah’s early life was marked by displacement and conflict. His family was forced to move to southern Lebanon, a region that would become central to his rise in the political and military landscape of Lebanon.Hassan Nasrallah pursued theological studies and later joined the Amal movement, a Shiite political faction, before helping to establish Hezbollah in the early 1980s.
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Hezbollah was initially formed with the assistance of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to combat the Israeli occupation of Lebanon. Over time, it grew to become Iran’s key ally in the Middle East, forming what became known as the Axis of Resistance, which also included other regional powers like Syria.
Hassan Nasrallah rose to the position of Hezbollah’s secretary-general in 1992 after the assassination of his predecessor, Sayyed Abbas Musawi, by an Israeli airstrike. His leadership marked a new chapter for the group, steering it through numerous conflicts with Israel.
An Archenemy of Israel
Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah became known for its relentless resistance against Israel. The group was pivotal in driving Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in 2000, following an 18-year occupation. Nasrallah’s popularity soared within Lebanon and across the Arab world for his role in this military success.
Hezbollah’s power further solidified after its 2006 war with Israel, which ended in a stalemate but elevated Nasrallah’s status to iconic levels. His fiery rhetoric and defiant stance against Israel made him both a revered figure in parts of the Arab world and a target for Israel and the West.
While Hezbollah was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 1997, Nasrallah continued to lead with a combination of militant aggression and political pragmatism. Despite living in hiding for fear of Israeli assassination, he remained a central figure in the ongoing Israeli-Hezbollah conflict.
Nasrallah’s Role in Recent Conflicts
In the most recent Israel-Hamas conflict, Hezbollah under Nasrallah’s command intensified its military operations along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Labeling it a “backup front” for Gaza, Nasrallah claimed that Hezbollah’s attacks were meant to distract Israeli forces from Hamas operations in Gaza.
Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria’s civil war, where it backed President Bashar Assad, led to a decline in its popularity across the Arab world. However, Nasrallah maintained a steadfast alliance with Iran and other regional powers.
As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in recent months, Israeli airstrikes targeted high-ranking military figures within Hezbollah, including commanders in Nasrallah’s circle. The air raid that killed Nasrallah marked the latest and most significant escalation in the decades-long confrontation between the two forces.
A Legacy of Defiance
Hassan Nasrallah leaves behind a complex legacy. Idolized by his Shiite followers and feared by his adversaries, his death marks a significant turning point in the power dynamics of the region. Despite his death, Hezbollah remains a dominant force, with its future direction now uncertain following the loss of its most iconic leader.
