However, in 1978, Nasrallah, along with many other Lebanese students, was expelled from Iraq as part of Saddam Hussein’s crackdown on Shia clerics and scholars. Al-Sadr himself was later imprisoned and executed by Hussein’s regime.
Upon returning to Lebanon in 1979, Nasrallah continued his religious studies and became involved with the Amal Movement, where he taught at an Amal-affiliated school. He quickly rose within the organization’s ranks and was appointed as Amal’s political delegate in the Beqaa Valley, making him a member of its central political office.
Rise in Hezbollah
During the early 1980s, a faction within Amal split and formed Hezbollah, an organization influenced by the Iranian Revolution and dedicated to resisting Israeli occupation in Lebanon. Nasrallah joined Hezbollah and became a key figure in its leadership. He traveled to Iran for further religious training before returning to Lebanon to strengthen Hezbollah’s position within the Shia community and its military capabilities.
Hezbollah engaged in guerrilla warfare against Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon in 1982. The organization declared that its ultimate goal was the elimination of Israel, stating that the conflict should “only end when it has been removed from existence.” Hezbollah received military and financial support from Iran and Syria, solidifying its role as a key player in Lebanon’s complex political and military landscape.