Nasrallah’s Early Leadership and Military Strategy
Hassan Nasrallah’s ascent to the leadership of Hezbollah in 1992 came during a critical period for both the organization and Lebanon. The country had been ravaged by years of civil war, and southern Lebanon remained occupied by Israeli forces, who had established a “security zone” to prevent Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. However, under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah not only survived but thrived, transforming into a well-organized militant group capable of launching sophisticated attacks against Israeli forces.
One of Nasrallah’s most significant early moves was to strengthen Hezbollah’s military capabilities. With the support of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah acquired rockets with a longer range, enabling the group to strike deep into northern Israel, beyond the Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon. This marked a turning point in the Arab-Israeli conflict, as Hezbollah became the first Arab group to develop a serious threat to Israeli towns and cities from across the border.
Operation Accountability (1993)
In 1993, Israel launched Operation Accountability, a major military campaign aimed at punishing Hezbollah for its continued attacks on northern Israel. Israeli forces targeted much of Lebanon’s infrastructure, including bridges, roads, and power plants, with the goal of pressuring the Lebanese government to rein in Hezbollah. Israel claimed the operation was a success, as it disrupted Hezbollah’s operations and caused significant damage to Lebanon’s economy.
However, Operation Accountability did not achieve its primary objective of forcing Hezbollah to halt its attacks. Instead, it led to widespread anger and resentment among the Lebanese population, particularly in the Shia community, which viewed Hezbollah as a defender against Israeli aggression. An agreement was eventually reached, in which Israel agreed to end its attacks on Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah ceasing its rocket attacks on northern Israel. This ceasefire was temporary, as hostilities soon resumed.