Israel Faces New Threat Amid Efforts to Dismantle Hezbollah’s Leadership

The crisis within Hezbollah’s leadership may result in internal power struggles and a shift in strategy. A new, more radical generation of leaders could emerge, potentially launching more devastating attacks against Israel.

Israel continues its relentless campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s leadership. Two weeks ago, Hassan Nasrallah, who led the group for 32 years, was assassinated in a targeted Israeli airstrike.More recently, the Israeli military announced the killing of a Hezbollah member gathering intelligence against Israel in the Golan Heights.

Other leaders believed to have been killed by Israel include Fu’ad Shakar, the group’s strategic commander; Ali Karaki, head of Hezbollah’s southern front; and Ibrahim Aqeel, the military operations commander.Additionally, Nasrallah’s cousin, Hashem Safieddine, who is viewed as a potential successor to Nasrallah, has been missing since Israel targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs last week.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on October 9 that “Nasrallah’s replacement and his replacement” had been killed by Israeli forces, though it remains unclear if he was referring to Safieddine.

“Today, Hezbollah is much weaker than it was many years ago,” Netanyahu added.Despite the severe blows to Hezbollah’s leadership, experts warn that a power vacuum may lead to the emergence of more radical leaders, potentially resulting in a stronger response against Israel.

More Extremists May Emerge

Mohammed Albasha, a U.S.-based Middle East security analyst, told Business Insider that Hezbollah’s search for a new leader could result in “a temporary power struggle or internal split,” initially weakening the group’s influence in Lebanon. This shift could destabilize and alter Hezbollah’s “political and military strategies.”However, Albasha noted that such a situation would likely be short-lived, predicting that the conflict would escalate further.Antony Loewenstein, author of The Palestine Laboratory, stated to Sky News, “This group will definitely be affected. More people could emerge.

More extremists could emerge.”William F. Wechsler, senior director at the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, emphasized that Hezbollah became more dangerous after the assassination of its founder, Abbas al-Musawi, by Israel in 1992. He pointed out that Musawi’s death triggered a series of terrorist attacks, including the suicide bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires by a member of Islamic Jihad, a group linked to Hezbollah.

Mireille Rebeiz, Chair of Middle Eastern Studies at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, echoed this sentiment in The Conversation. She stated, “Israel may not necessarily have the desired impact. Nasrallah has followed in al-Musawi’s footsteps, and under his leadership, the group has expanded its recruitment, arsenal, and reach inside and outside Lebanon. History could now repeat itself.”

The Conflict is Spreading

Concerns are mounting that the ongoing conflict could ignite a broader war in the Middle East.In addition to targeting Hezbollah leadership through airstrikes in Lebanon and Gaza, Israel is contemplating a counterattack against Iran following its ballistic missile launch. Experts suggest that Israel may aim at Iran’s oil facilities and nuclear sites or consider assassinating key military advisers.

Ahmet Kaya, a political economist at the UK’s National Institute of Economic and Social Research, warned that the escalating conflict could “exacerbate the global economic malaise, adding to instability, undermining deflationary efforts, and ultimately reducing global GDP growth.”The Bank of Israel estimated in May that the war could lead to total losses of approximately $66 billion by the end of next year, representing about 12% of the country’s GDP.Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Yoel Smotrich has previously characterized the conflict as the “longest” and “costliest” in Israel’s history.“The situation is very complex, and it is difficult to predict what will happen next,” said Mireille Rebeiz. “However, this new wave of violence may only strengthen Hezbollah’s resolve.”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top