Mustafa Badreddine’s mysterious successor

Hezbollah is going through a state of unprecedented confusion. More than 1,300 of its members have been killed in the war in Syria, including some of its leaders, and the party cannot explain how they were killed.

These assassinations include Imad Mughniyah, his son Jihad, Samir al-Kantar, and most recently Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed near Damascus airport and will be succeeded by Mustafa Mughniyah.

Many experts say Hezbollah is going through its worst phase.

Commenting on Mughniyah succeeding Badreddine, analyst Ronen Solomon said: “In 2005, he was 18 years old - the age when one completes basic military training in… Hezbollah and is sent to specialize in a certain field. At the same time, Mustafa began joining his father on operational missions, and hence received an informal education.”

Losses

Meanwhile, Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, visited southern Beirut to offer condolences for the death of Badreddine. “We’ve lost a leader and dear brother,” he said. “This misfortune is a tragedy for the entire Islamic nation. Losing a man like [Badreddine] is not limited to one country, region or suburb.”

Hezbollah’s losses show the extent of the ideological brainwashing of its supporters. If it had been another party taking these blows, it would have been met with protests and demands for accountability. Who knows, perhaps there is a sparkle of fire under the ashes.

This article was first published in Al Bayan on May 19, 2016.
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Turki Al-Dakhil is the General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. He began his career as a print journalist, covering politics and culture for the Saudi newspapers Okaz, Al-Riyadh and Al-Watan. He then moved to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and pan-Arab news magazine Al-Majalla. Turki later became a radio correspondent for the French-owned pan-Arab Radio Monte Carlo and MBC FM. He proceeded to Elaph, an online news magazine and Alarabiya.net, the news channel’s online platform. Over a ten-year period, Dakhil’s weekly Al Arabiya talk show “Edaat” (Spotlights) provided an opportunity for proponents of Arab and Islamic social reform to make their case to a mass audience. Turki also owns Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. He has received several awards and honors, including the America Abroad Media annual award for his role in supporting civil society, human rights and advancing women’s roles in Gulf societies. He tweets @TurkiAldakhil.