Who was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah?

Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time leader of Hezbollah, has passed away, as confirmed by the group following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Nasrallah had been at the helm of Hezbollah for three decades and was a prominent figure in the Middle East. He had not made public appearances for several years due to concerns for his safety, particularly fears of assassination by Israeli forces. The Israeli military announced that they had successfully targeted and killed Nasrallah, who was 64 years old at the time of his death. He was known for his close ties to Iran and played a significant role in transforming Hezbollah into a formidable political and military entity. His supporters held him in high regard, viewing him as a key leader in their struggle. Under Nasrallah's guidance, Hezbollah not only trained fighters from Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, but also provided support to militias in Iraq and Yemen. The group received military supplies, including missiles and rockets, from Iran to use against Israel. Nasrallah was instrumental in evolving Hezbollah from a militia formed to combat Israeli occupation in Lebanon into a military force that surpassed the Lebanese army in strength. He also helped the group become a major player in Lebanese politics and a provider of essential services such as health and education. Born in 1960 in the Bourj Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut, Nasrallah was the eldest of nine children in a family that ran a small grocery store. His journey into politics began during the Lebanese civil war, which erupted in 1975. He initially joined the Amal movement, a Shia militia, before spending time in Iraq to study at a Shia seminary. Upon returning to Lebanon, he rejoined Amal but later broke away to form a new group called Islamic Amal in 1982, shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon. This new group received substantial support from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and became one of the leading Shia militias that would eventually form Hezbollah. In 1985, Hezbollah officially declared its existence by publishing an open letter that identified the United States and the Soviet Union as its main adversaries and called for the destruction of Israel, which they claimed was occupying Muslim lands. Nasrallah climbed the ranks within Hezbollah as the organization expanded. He began as a fighter, then became the director in Baalbek, later overseeing the entire Bekaa region, and eventually leading the group in Beirut. He assumed leadership of Hezbollah in 1992 at the young age of 32, following the assassination of his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in an Israeli airstrike. One of his first actions as leader was to retaliate against the killing of Musawi, which included ordering rocket attacks into northern Israel that resulted in casualties. He also engaged in a low-intensity conflict with Israeli forces that culminated in their withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Following this withdrawal, Nasrallah declared that Hezbollah had achieved the first Arab victory against Israel and insisted that the group would not disarm, asserting that all Lebanese territory, including the Shebaa Farms area, must be reclaimed. A period of relative calm ensued until 2006 when Hezbollah launched a cross-border attack that resulted in the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers and the kidnapping of two others, provoking a massive Israeli military response. Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut, while Hezbollah retaliated by firing approximately 4,000 rockets at Israel. The conflict lasted for 34 days, resulting in the deaths of over 1,125 Lebanese, most of whom were civilians, as well as 119 Israeli soldiers and 45 civilians. Despite the intense bombardment, Nasrallah survived unscathed, although his home and offices were targeted. In 2009, he released a new political manifesto that aimed to clarify Hezbollah's political vision. This document removed references to establishing an Islamic republic but maintained a firm stance against Israel and the United States, reiterating the necessity of retaining weapons despite a UN resolution prohibiting them in southern Lebanon. Nasrallah stated, 'People evolve. The whole world changed over the past 24 years. Lebanon changed. The world order changed. ' In 2013, he announced that Hezbollah was entering a new phase by deploying fighters to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad in quelling a rebellion. This involvement in Syria led to accusations from Lebanese Sunni leaders that Hezbollah was dragging Lebanon into the Syrian conflict, exacerbating sectarian tensions. In 2019, Lebanon faced a severe economic crisis that sparked widespread protests against a political elite long accused of corruption and mismanagement. Initially, Nasrallah expressed sympathy for the calls for reform, but his stance shifted as protesters began demanding a complete overhaul of the political system. On October 8, 2023, following an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen, fighting between Hezbollah and Israel escalated. Nasrallah stated that the Hamas attack was '100% Palestinian in terms of both decision and execution,' but emphasized the significance of the exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel. The group launched over 8,000 rockets at northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while also targeting military positions with anti-tank missiles and explosive drones. The Israel Defense Forces retaliated with airstrikes and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. In his most recent address, Nasrallah accused Israel of detonating devices that killed 39 people and injured thousands, claiming that Israel had 'crossed all red lines. ' He acknowledged that Hezbollah had suffered an 'unprecedented blow. ' Shortly thereafter, Israel intensified its attacks on Hezbollah, resulting in nearly 800 casualties.