Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been at the helm of the Lebanese militant group for the past 30 years, turning it into one of the most influential paramilitary organizations in the Middle East.
On Friday afternoon, Israeli airstrikes targeted six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik, marking the most significant assault on the Lebanese capital in nearly a year amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli military claimed these strikes, which resulted in numerous casualties, struck Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut. Major Israeli TV channels reported that Nasrallah was the intended target of these strikes, although this has not been officially confirmed by Israel, and Hezbollah officials remained silent on the matter.
Hassan Nasrallah, 64, has been a pivotal figure as Hezbollah has engaged in multiple conflicts against Israel and supported the Syrian government in its civil war, significantly aiding President Bashar Assad’s regime. A skilled strategist, he has positioned Hezbollah as Israel’s primary adversary, forming key alliances with Shiite clerics in Iran and Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas.
Admired by his Lebanese Shiite supporters and respected across the Arab and Islamic world, Nasrallah is often referred to as sayyid, a title denoting his lineage to the Prophet Muhammad. Though considered an extremist by the United States and much of the West, he is perceived as a pragmatist compared to earlier Hezbollah militants.
Despite his substantial influence, Nasrallah has largely remained in hiding due to fears of being targeted by Israeli forces.
Nasrallah was born in 1960 to a poor Shiite family in Beirut’s impoverished northern suburb of Sharshabouk and later moved to southern Lebanon. He studied theology and became involved with the Amal movement before joining Hezbollah’s founding members. The organization began in 1982, established by Iranian Revolutionary Guard members sent to Lebanon to combat Israeli invaders. Hezbollah marked Iran’s first effort to extend its political Islam into the region.
As Hezbollah gained strength, it became part of the Iranian-supported groups known as the Axis of Resistance. In February 1992, Nasrallah was appointed secretary-general just two days following the assassination of former leader Sayyed Abbas Musawi in an Israeli airstrike. In 1997, the U.S. designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Under his leadership, Hezbollah successfully waged a campaign that culminated in the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in 2000 after an 18-year occupation. The death of his eldest son, Hadi, during this conflict deepened his commitment to the cause. Following the withdrawal, Nasrallah attained iconic status within Lebanon and in the broader Arab world, with his messages broadcasted through Hezbollah’s own media channels. This prominence was further solidified during the 2006 conflict with Israel, which ended in a stalemate.
When the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Hezbollah intervened on behalf of Assad, despite a decrease in its popularity among the Arab populace.
In the ongoing conflict following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, Hezbollah has initiated attacks on Israeli military positions along the border, labeling it a “backup front” for Gaza. In his addresses throughout the conflict, Nasrallah has asserted that Hezbollah’s actions have diverted Israeli attention away from Hamas and insisted that their attacks would persist until a cease-fire is established in Gaza.
Nasrallah’s defiant stance remains, even as tensions escalate with Israel announcing a new strategy aimed at pushing Hezbollah away from the border to facilitate the return of thousands displaced from northern Israel. The Israeli military has carried out strikes killing several key Hezbollah commanders and has been implicated in the explosions of numerous communication devices used by its members, resulting in significant casualties.