Iran Labanon Israel War: The killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces is one major turning point in the continuing Gaza war, as it exposed the vulnerabilities of the group and greatly changed the landscape of politics in the Middle East. Nasrallah, aged 64, was listed by the United States as a terrorist. The death may send shock waves through Hezbollah and its allies into uncertainty in a region already rife with tension.
Impact on Hezbollah’s Strength
Analysts from the Associated Press say Nasrallah’s killing would not only weaken Hezbollah but would also shed some light on the confidence of its Iran-backed allies in the Arab world. “This will shake the confidence of Hezbollah’s Iran-backed allies.tipping a tectonic shift in Iran’s network of influence in the Middle East,” said Lina Khatib, associate fellow at Chatham House. A shift like this could have implications for various factions that support Iran, from the Houthis in Yemen to the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.
Grieving Over Leadership Loss
But as Hezbollah grieves over the grievous blow, pundits point out an institutional vacuum at the top. No member of the organization has – or ever had – the influence Nasrallah enjoyed. But among his potential successors, his cousin, Hashem Safieddine, who leads the group’s political affairs, is considered the best bet. But it did not say in an official statement from Hezbollah regarding the killing of Nasrallah whether Safieddine survived the attack.
The U.S. Treasury Department lists Safieddine as one of Hezbollah’s senior leaders, whom he has been working for since 1992 within Hezbollah’s leadership. His close family relationship via marriage to former commander General Qasem Soleimani of the IRGC confirms his standing. Like Nasrallah, Safieddine is reported by U.S. authorities as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and he too was banned as a terrorist by Saudi Arabia.
Safieddine’s Public Appearances
Unlike Nasrallah, who has spent nearly two decades out of the public eye, Safieddine has emerged from the shadows to make appearances at political and religious gatherings with an air of confidence that might play well among Hezbollah’s grass roots. His title of “Sayyed” plus his black turban makes him a claim of descent from the Prophet Muhammad and therefore a major player inside the organization.
This has brought about some unavoidable questions for the future of Hezbollah, such as the direction and possible rearrangement of Middle East politics that it may need to reshape after the death of one of its toughest leaders.