Nasrallah, the aftermath: A Region on the Brink
By Nemroud Soulaiman: Writer and political analyst 30-09-2024
A decision has been made to bury Nasrallah tomorrow, Monday, a day with great symbolic significance, one that will determine the future of the party and perhaps even Lebanon itself, with massive implications for the region. Netanyahu, in his address to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, unveiled his vision for a new Middle East.
His plan involves the dismantling of old borders and the establishment of new ones. It is evident that he has succeeded in silencing Hamas, as seen by the thousands of dead, countless more injured, the destruction of 75% of Gaza’s housing, and the obliteration of its means of livelihood. Netanyahu’s next step was to silence Hezbollah, targeting its infrastructure, eliminating most of its leadership across various fields, and assassinating its leader, Nasrallah. Today, Netanyahu began bombing the Port of Hodeidah, destroying energy and power stations.
The new Secretary General of Hezbollah will be Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin. His son, Reza, is married to Zainab, the daughter of Qassem Soleimani, and his brother Ibrahim has served as the party’s ambassador in Tehran for many years.
Leaked information from Beirut, Tehran, and Washington suggests that the new Secretary-General will commence his tenure tomorrow, after Nasrallah’s funeral, with Iran’s full backing. In fact, under Iranian directives, thousands of rockets of all types are expected to be launched at Israeli security, political, and governmental institutions in every city, including Tel Aviv, with the strikes reaching as far as Israel’s nuclear facilities—though without targeting them directly. The aim of the strikes is to send the following messages:
- The party remains strong, contrary to what the media suggests.
- Retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Nasrallah and other party leaders.
- Reviving hope within the Iranian axis, which had been losing confidence.
- A warning to Israel: if you attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, we will retaliate in kind within Israel.
U.S. President Joe Biden has instructed his Secretary of Defense to prepare the military for what lies ahead in the Middle East following Netanyahu’s declarations and the killing of Nasrallah. Israel is now on high alert across all sectors.
As the region braces for what comes next, the looming question remains:
Can Iran and Hezbollah’s new Secretary-General, Hashem Safieddine, follow through with their plans after Nasrallah’s burial?
Or will the U.S. and Israel dismantle the scheme before it takes form, potentially ending the so-called Iranian axis?
Could the French Foreign Minister, currently in Beirut, play a decisive role in averting the course charted by Iran and Hezbollah?
