Death of Hezbollah chief raises question of what comes next As Lebanon reels from news of the death of longtime Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, questions are being heightened over what his death will mean for the armed group, for Lebanese politics and for tensions in the region.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who is backtracking from New York where he was attending the UN General Assembly, will declare an exceptional cabinet meeting Saturday evening focused on Nasrallah's death “as soon as he lands”, FRANCE 24’s Rawad Taha reported on Saturday.
The official stance of the Lebanese government has been to seek a de-escalation and the full implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but Nasrallah's death and the continued bombardment of Beirut – the most severe of the past year – is fueling fears that cross-border tensions are on the verge of exploding into a wider conflict.
The Lebanese population is sharply divided on the role Hezbollah plays in their politics, with only some 30 percent of the population professing significant "trust" in the movement and others deeply resentful, wanting a Lebanon free from sectarian conflict.
Many would agree, however, that Nasrallah was the "glue" declaring the group together, with his death opening up a new, as-yet-unwritten chapter.
As an organisation, Hezbollah has in recent months been "significantly downgraded in terms of reputation, military capability, leadership", Mohanad Hage Ali, of the Carnegie Middle East Center, informed Reuters. "I think the ability to spring support and stand on their feet has been significantly diminished."
"Nasrallah was basically keeping them together. It was the glue of the organisation," he said.
And while many in the region might have agreed with the group's criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza, Hezbollah did not enjoy universal support.
There is even a sense of "relief" in some regional capitals consequent news of Nasrallah's death, according to some Middle East experts, with Hezbollah viewed as a destabilising force by many.
"There's a mixture of notion in the region's Arab capitals, and also a sense of joy – hidden joy – because, as you know, none of the conservative Arab states have been particularly fond of Hezbollah," revealed Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University's campus in Qatar.
Saudi analyst Aziz Alghashian, a specialist in Gulf-Israeli relations, agreed. "There is clearly no love lost between Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah. They find Hezbollah very disruptive in the region," he said.
The Iran-backed group now faces the dispute of choosing a new leader after suffering the heaviest casualties of its 42-year history.
The killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, who led the group for 32 years, has put the spotlight on the man widely regarded as his successor, Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah's and – like him – a cleric who wears the black turban denoting a descendent of the Prophet Mohammed.
As head of the group's executive council, Safieddine oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs. He also sits on the Jihad Council, which manages military operations.
Safieddine’s public statements often reflect Hezbollah’s militant stance and its alignment with the Palestinian cause. “Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you,” he said, in a show of solidarity with Palestinian fighters at a recent event in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The US State Department designated Safieddine a terrorist in 2017.
And he may have been Nasrallah's chosen heir, with the late leader “tailoring positions for him within a variety of different councils within Lebanese Hezbollah” and even having him go out to speak, disclosed Philip Smyth, an expert who studies Iran-backed Shiite militias.
Safieddine’s family ties and physical resemblance to Nasrallah, as well as his religious status as an offspring of the Prophet Mohammed, could all count in his favour as a potential successor.
He has also been vocal in his criticism of US policy. “This mentally impeded, crazy US administration headed by [Donald] Trump will not be capable to harm the resistance,” he stated in 2017 in response to US pressure on Hezbollah, adding that the US moves would only solidify Hezbollah’s resolve.
Category: World-News
Tag: Death of Hezbollah chief raises question of what comes next
Written by Author
Published 9/28/2024