Israel successfully killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader in an airstrike in Beirut last week, part of its ongoing offensive against Lebanon that has since escalated into an offensive.
Hassan Nasrallah, 64, led the militant group for more than three decades and oversaw Lebanon’s transformation from a militia group to a powerful political organization. his death, According to Wall Street Journal reporter Jared MalsinA significant lead left the group with zero.
Nasrullah was the key to the rise of Hezbollah The most powerful non-state armed forces in the worldIt has played a role in supporting Iran. The group, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, has used suicide bombings, kidnappings, and missile attacks to challenge American and Israeli influence in the region, in addition to its political influence. Nasrallah was known for his charisma and fierce determination, and his speeches were closely followed not only in Lebanon, but throughout the Arab world.
He was equally admired and hated in the region for Hezbollah’s role in – and at times became – an attacking force.
The Wall Street Journal’s Middle East correspondent spoke with Malsin Today, explained Host Sean Rameswaram on Nasrallah’s rise to power and what his death means for Hezbollah’s future.
Below is a portion of their conversation, edited for length and clarity. There’s more in the full podcast, so take a listen Today, explained Wherever you get your podcast, incl Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SpotifyAnd Stitcher.
Jared Malcin
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah was one of the most important figures in the Middle East. He became Hezbollah’s leader in 1992 and has since led the transformation of Hezbollah from a militia group into a powerful political organization that elects MPs to the Lebanese Parliament, which has cabinet members and is the most important branch. Iran’s influence in the region. On the one hand, he was a charismatic leader who was seen as one of the few leaders in the Middle East who stood up militarily to Israel. On the other hand, the United States and Israel have labeled him a terrorist. So there will be many people celebrating his death and many people mourning him.
Sean Rameswaram
Can you tell us how he became such a huge figure? Where does his story begin?
Jared Malcin
His story begins with the formation of Hezbollah in the early 1980s. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982. At that time, it was a small group who were working in cells and did not even publicly announce their presence for several years. In 1978 and ’79, you have the Iranian Revolution where there was an uprising against the Shah of Iran that was just an earthquake that shook the region. Nasrallah studied in Iran, rubbed shoulders with many people involved in that movement, and this awakening of ordinary people protesting in Iran could overthrow the Shah of Iran. The idea was “We can do anything.” And he came back to Lebanon where he went into this guerrilla movement.
Another factor explaining why Nasrallah was so important is that he was a charismatic public speaker. Every time he went on TV, it was an event. I watched it for over a decade in the Middle East – when he came on TV in Lebanon, the Palestinians, Egypt and Jordan, they listened to what he had to say. He used to give these speeches where everyone was hanging on his every word. He loved to joke – [for instance] During the Bush administration, he’s talking about John Bolton, and he says, “This is the American ambassador, Bolton, or whatever his name is … he’s a very funny-looking guy with his mustache …” etc. And then a big smile. In addition to being the leader of the world’s most heavily armed militia and one of Lebanon’s most powerful political parties, [Nasrallah] It was also this ability to connect directly with the public that broadened its appeal.
Sean Rameswaram
Can you name his greatest victory during his tenure?
Jared Malcin
There is one major victory, and that is the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, which was the culmination of an 18-year insurgency that Hezbollah had been fighting against the Israelis. They attacked Israeli forces, there was a mutiny, and then the Israelis withdrew without a peace deal. And no one else in the region could do that. Israel has a qualitative military edge over other countries around it. They have nuclear weapons, fighter jets. And here is a group of guerrillas who managed to achieve that with the help of Iran but fighting with small arms. And it inspired a lot of people.
The other was in 2006 when Hezbollah captured some Israeli soldiers in an operation across the border and took them back to Lebanon. It bordered on military disaster for the Israelis as they moved into Lebanon. Israeli military officers will tell you that they were unprepared for what they found, which was a group of you fighting for their own country. They know the terrain. They had anti-tank missiles and were capable of penetrating the armor of more than 20 tanks.
Sean Rameswaram
That is why Nasrallah will be missed in the coming months and years. But you also indicated people celebrating his death. Why should not only Israelis, but also Arabs in the region and around the world celebrate?
Jared Malcin
Okay, this is really important. You saw over the weekend, for example, people celebrating in rebel-held Syria. Nasrallah decided to send his troops to Syria to fight [alongside] Government because they have decided to side with these states who are supporting [them] Even if it means siding with a brutal regime that oppresses its own people. This was a turning point, where instead of fighting as a guerrilla force against an invading force, they were acting as an invading army against the Syrian rebels. This is why it is incredibly polarized across the region. There are many people celebrating his death and saying good riddance. Even here in Lebanon, for example, there are people who absolutely loved him. There were people who absolutely hated him. And I think there are a lot of people who feel really mixed about it.
Sean Rameswaram
Is another Nasrallah waiting in the wings? Do we know what comes next for Hezbollah?
Jared Malcin
We don’t know yet. They have yet to name a successor, but there has been a whole series of Hezbollah leaders killed in the past few months. So we’re talking about a generation of senior leaders, founding members of the group who have already been killed.
Sean Rameswaram
You know, we had one Guest on the show last week [Nick Paton Walsh]Who said it’s important to remember that “immediately destroying their opponent’s power won’t keep you safe in the long run, because dead men have children who come back even angrier.”
Jared Malcin
There is no way to wipe out Hezbollah. We saw it with the war in Gaza, with Hamas, which is a much smaller, much less well-equipped, less trained group. It has managed to overcome a massive Israeli military operation in a small area, the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah is a larger group that is more heavily armed, has more advantages in terms of geography, ability to rearm itself, and has had a history of resurgence over the years. So in the long term, Hezbollah is going nowhere even if significantly weakened.
