Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah is serving his sixth term as the current and third Secretary-General of Hezbollah (the Party of God). Hezbollah is a Twelver Shia Islamic political party, social and paramilitary organisation based in Lebanon which seeks social justice through Islamic ideals.
Birth: 31 August 1960 (Age: 63)
Source of Influence: Philanthropy, Charity & Development, Political
Influence: Political leader of 1â2 million Lebanese Shia and supporters of his resistance to Israel
School of Thought: Shiâa, Revolutionary Shiâism
Status: Featured in current year
Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah is serving his sixth term as the current and third Secretary-General of HezbolÂlah (the Party of God). Hezbollah is a Twelver Shia Islamic political party, social and paramilitary organÂisation based in Lebanon which seeks social justice through Islamic ideals.
Military Power: Hezbollah remains a de facto seÂcurity force in southern Lebanon, and its military presence is felt throughout the country. The military successes Nasrallah had in the late nineties are seen as the main factor for Israelâs withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, and the repulsion of Israeli forces in July 2006 earned Nasrallah many more supportÂers. Hezbollah fighters have been key in strengthenÂing the Syrian regime during the Syrian civil war, and their presence there has pushed out daâish but draws reactions from Israel. Hezbollah has continued to deÂvelop its arsenal, as well as developing accuracy. The latest estimates include at least 100,000 rockets and missiles.
Social Services:Â Hezbollah has also won significant grassroots support by cultivating a social welfare sysÂtem that provides schools, clinics and housing in the predominantly Shia parts of Lebanon. These welfare activities are run with efficiency and rival those carÂried out by the state, giving the organisation even broader appeal. It also runs Al Manarâan influential television station.
Popularity:Â His popularity peaked just after the 2006 conflict with Israel, when many Sunni Muslims looked to him as a figure of defiance against Israel. Since the Syrian conflict, however, many if not all of these supporters have left him because of his supÂport of the Syrian (Alawi) regime against the Syrian people, the majority of whom are Sunnis. His claim that the Syrian conflict is not sectarian in essence is not one that many Sunni Muslims agree with. He is widely seen as one of the main victors of the Syrian conflict. Nasrallah recently declared âvictoryâ in the Syrian war, adding that what remained was âscattered battlesâ.
Current Issues: Nasrallah has been very critical of recent peace initiatives with Israel and recently met with Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, during the latÂterâs first visit to Lebanon in 30 years. Also, the afterÂmath of the huge blast in Beirut in August 2020 has led to a crippling political and economic situation.
“In the history of mankind, this has happened many times, occupation leaders cling on to the land that they’re occupying. People fight to liberate their land. But in the end, the people’s will is what achieves victory.â
3rd Secretary General of Hezbollah
Over 45 thousand active duty troops and reservists in Hezbollah