Hassan Nasrallah

Hassan Nasrallah   ( “terrorist”,  freedom fighter)
Born	31 August 1960  Bourj Hammoud,  Lebanon
Died	27 September 2024 (Age 64)
Nationality	Lebanese
Religion	Shia Islam
Founder of	Hezbollah
Party	Hezbollah
Leader of Hezbollah  Secretary-General of Hezbollah In office 16 February 1992 - 27 September 2024

Sayed Hassan Nasrallah was the secretary-general of Hezbollah (Party of God), the Lebanese political party and Shia Islam community’s dominant political bloc from 1992 until his death on 27 September 2024. Hassan Nasrallah became leader of Hezbollah after the Israelis assassinated the previous leader, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992.

Conflict with the West

Under Nasrallah's tenure, Hezbollah has been designated a terrorist organisation, either wholly or in part, by the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as by the European Union. However, Russia has rejected the claims that Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation, regarding Hezbollah as a legitimate sociopolitical organisation. China remains neutral, and maintains contacts with Hezbollah.

2023 Gaza–Israel war

Al Jazeera English (November 3, 2023) - Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah gives Gaza speech

A handout photo that the Prime Minister's Office says shows Benjamin Netanyahu approving an airstrike on Beirut targeting Hezbollah's main headquarters, September 27, 2024 (Prime Minister's Office). Netanyahu held a speech the next day which he began with: "If someone rises up to kill you, kill him first".

Hassan Nasrallah's speech on 3 November 2023 was expected to be broadcast in public screenings organised by Hezbollah across the country, and was being framed by Hezbollah as a significant moment. They took the unusual step of announcing it five days in advance and released dramatic short videos featuring Nasrallah fuelling the expectation of a major announcement.

In his address, Hassan Nasrallah said whoever wants to prevent a regional war, must quickly stop the war on the Gaza Strip. Nasrallah repeated that all options in the Lebanese front are open. He said that Hezbollah is ready for all possibilities.

Addressing the US deployment of warships in the region, Nasrallah said Hezbollah is not intimidated.

As he proceeded to touch on familiar themes during his speech, the Hezbollah leader also said that further escalation on the Lebanese front is a real possibility. He warned that such a development depends on Israeli actions in Gaza.

Nasrallah continued, saying Hezbollah has been escalating its operations by the day and forcing Israel to keep its forces near the Lebanon border instead of Gaza or the occupied West Bank.

Death

On Saturday 28 September 2024, Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day. A statement said Nasrallah “has joined his fellow martyrs”. The airstrike by the IDF on his location was massive, with up to 80 bunker buster bombs according to the NYT. Hezbollah vowed to “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”

 

Related Documents

Title	Type	Publication date	Author(s)	Description
Document:Netanyahu Plays Chicken	blog post	21 September 2024	Craig Murray	Netanyahu’s strategy of assassinations and deadly stunts appears to be an attempt to goad Hezbollah out of their own territory into a suicidal advance into Israel. But Nasrullah is not falling for it. It is worth stressing that, contrary to the propaganda, in the last year Israel has hit Lebanon with five missiles for every one sent by Hezbollah.
Document:Speech by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 20 August 2017 to the Syrian Diplomatic Corps	Speech	31 August 2017	Bashar al Assad	The US President is not the maker of policies, but the executor. Therefore, the “Deep State” in the United States does not govern in partnership with the President, but leaves him a small margin.

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