Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Israel Gaza War
Hezbollah Acknowledges the Demise of Leader Hassan Nasrallah Following Israeli Airstrike
Hezbollah has formally declared the demise of its leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, subsequent to an Israeli bombing on Beirut. Nasrallah, 64 years old, was a significant figure in the Middle East, heading Lebanon's Shia Islamist militant organization. Recognized for his considerable influence, Nasrallah has remained out of the public eye for years due to concerns regarding potential assassination by Israel. On Saturday, Israeli armed forces asserted accountability for the strike that resulted in his death in the Lebanese capital.
Nasrallah significantly transformed Hezbollah into a formidable military and political entity in Lebanon, closely associated with Iran. Under his leadership, the group provided assistance to militant factions in Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen, and developed a substantial stockpile of rockets and missiles for deployment against Israel. Hezbollah, under Nasrallah's leadership, has surpassed the Lebanese army in strength and emerged as a significant political entity, delivering crucial social services and supporting Iran's regional aspirations.
Nasrallah, born in 1960 in Beirut, became affiliated with the Amal movement, a Shia militia, amid Lebanon's civil war. Following a brief period in Iraq for religious studies, he returned and subsequently co founded Hezbollah in 1982, in the aftermath of Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Hezbollah, with assistance from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, emerged as the preeminent Shia militia in the nation.
Nasrallah became leadership of Hezbollah in 1992 following the assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al Musawi, in an Israeli helicopter attack. One of his initial actions as leader was to avenge Musawi's killing by a sequence of assaults, including a vehicle bombing in Turkey and a suicide bombing at the Israeli embassy in Argentina, resulting in 29 fatalities.
Under Nasrallah's leadership, Hezbollah engaged in an extended low-intensity struggle with Israel, resulting in the evacuation of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 2000. Nasrallah proclaimed this as a triumph, however he declined to disarm, pledging to recover all Lebanese territory.
In 2006, Hezbollah's incursion across the border precipitated a protracted month-long conflict with Israel. Notwithstanding significant losses on both sides and extensive devastation in Lebanon, Nasrallah's reputation surged among his adherents.
Under Nasrallah's leadership, Hezbollah progressed by issuing a political manifesto in 2009 to articulate its vision, while simultaneously augmenting its armament in contravention of UN agreements. By 2013, the group was overtly allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the Syrian Civil War, exacerbating sectarian differences in Lebanon.
The demise of Nasrallah occurs at a pivotal moment as Hezbollah and Israel are embroiled in renewed hostilities after to Hamas's assault on Israel in October 2023. Hezbollah fired more than 8,000 rockets against Israeli positions and military targets, while Israel retaliated with extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah locations in Lebanon. Nasrallah's last public address recognized the significant impact the war had imposed on the organization.
Nasrallah's leadership extended over several decades, during which he reinforced Hezbollah's military capabilities and political influence, rendering his death a pivotal event in the enduring struggle between Israel and Hezbollah.
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