The Hezbollah leaders who have been killed – and those who remain

Many of Hezbollah’s most important leaders, who have been with it for decades, are suddenly gone.

Here is the list of the main figures in the extremist Islamist movement that Israel has now killed – and the few that remain.

Hassan Nasrallah

Supreme leader for most of Hezbollah’s history. The son of a greengrocer in Beirut, where he was born in 1960. The upbringing was not particularly religious, but the outbreak of Lebanon’s civil war in 1975 was a turning point. The family fled and the 15-year-old, the second youngest of ten siblings, became involved in militant and religious groups.

Followed mentor Abbas al-Musawi into Hezbollah, a hardline Shia group formed in 1982 as a response to Israel’s invasion.

Nasrallah was 32 years old when al-Musawi was killed in an Israeli helicopter attack in 1992. Reportedly, it was Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei who then ensured that Nasrallah took over Hezbollah.

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Ibrahim Aqil

About the same age as Nasrallah, but less famous. Appeared in his 20s as a high-ranking member of Islamic Jihad, a group allied with Hezbollah. Seen, among other things, as being responsible for two bloody acts in 1983, against the US embassy in Beirut and against the peacekeeping force MNF – events which in total claimed several hundred lives.

This year, the US put a $7 million price on Aqil’s head.

Has also, among other things, been responsible for the commando force Radwan.

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Ali Karaki

Probably born in southern Lebanon in 1967. After the Israel-Lebanon war in 2006, became a member of the Jihad Council, a decision-making body within Hezbollah that can be said to be equivalent to a war cabinet.

Has in recent years led warfare on the southern front, i.e. against Israel. Was at the same meeting as Nasrallah last Friday, and died by the leader’s side.

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Mohammed Surur

Headed Hezbollah’s drone division. In the ongoing war, both spy and attack drones have been successful, as Israel’s defenses are more geared towards rockets and robots.

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Ibrahim Kobeissi

Was in charge of Hezbollah’s rocket and robotics department. Wanted by Israel for planning the abduction of three Israeli soldiers at the border in 2000.

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Fuad Shukr

Veteran who co-founded Hezbollah’s military branch. Close associate of Hassan Nasrallah, and is said to have led the effort to purchase increasingly advanced, larger and deadlier weapons.

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Which ones are left?

Naim Qassem is in his 70s, active in Hezbollah since its founding. Elected in the early 1990s as deputy leader. Has become known as uncompromising towards enemies, but is also said to have a leading role in charity among poor Shia Muslims.

Hashim Safieddine (Hashim Safi al-Din). Younger cousin of Hassan Nasrallah with whom he studied in Iran. Has long been seen as the group’s number two and is expected after his cousin’s death to now take over the leadership.

Talal Hamiya and Abu Ali Reda are also described as very experienced commanders, with great respect within the terrorist-classified movement.