Date: September 28, 2024
Tel: 202-682-4131
Washington, DC – In Defense of Christians (IDC), the nation’s leading advocacy organization for Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, is optimistic for peace in Lebanon and the Holy Land following the death of Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
On September 27, 2024, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched an airstrike on Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut’s majority-Shia Dahiyeh suburb, which killed Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. The IAF strike came after several months of Hezbollah missile and rocket attacks into Israel, precipitated by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel.
Nasrallah has led the Hezbollah terror organization since 1992.
Formed in 1982 at the height of the Lebanese Civil War, Hezbollah is a proxy paramilitary client of Iran, whose goal is to secure Lebanon as an Iranian satellite state on Israel’s northern border.
Since its founding, Hezbollah has been responsible for several assassinations of Christian leaders in Lebanon, targeted attacks on civilians in Lebanon and Israel, and countless acts of political sabotage. In the United States, Hezbollah is best known for the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, and the bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in October 1983, which claimed the lives of 241 Marines.
According to IDC executive director Richard Ghazal, “IDC remains cautiously optimistic that the death of Nasrallah will weaken Hezbollah, put Iran on notice, and clear a path for peace between Lebanon and Israel.” Ghazal continued: “For too long Hezbollah has held Lebanese society hostage, as a pawn at Iran’s disposal. We are hopeful that the Lebanese government, the United States, and the international community will seize this opportunity to ensure Hezbollah remains on its heels. This can only be accomplished through a strong and capable Lebanese Armed Forces.”
In the coming days, IDC will officially announce an expert panel discussion to examine the state of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its future in light of recent developments. Details will be forthcoming.
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