Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has revealed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a 21-day ceasefire just days before his assassination by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. This temporary ceasefire, which aimed to de-escalate tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, had been initiated by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other international allies during the recent United Nations General Assembly. Nasrallah’s death has not only ignited further tensions in the region but has also raised critical questions about diplomacy, the fragile state of Lebanon, and the future of Hezbollah’s operations.
The interview, aired on Wednesday with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, gave insight into behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts that could have potentially steered Lebanon and Israel away from the brink of another devastating conflict. However, with Nasrallah’s assassination, the fragile peace negotiations seem to have crumbled, and the situation remains volatile.
According to Habib, Nasrallah’s decision to agree to a ceasefire was significant, particularly for a group that has historically resisted direct negotiations with Israel. “He [Nasrallah] agreed, he agreed,” Habib emphasized during the interview, stating that the Lebanese government, in coordination with Hezbollah, had come to a consensus on the ceasefire terms. Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, a key political figure with close ties to Hezbollah, also played a pivotal role in consulting with the group before informing international allies, including the United States and France.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron were integral to this diplomatic process, both urging restraint from both sides at the UN General Assembly just days before Nasrallah’s assassination. “We informed the Americans and the French what had happened,” Habib noted, underscoring the significance of the diplomatic alignment. According to the Lebanese foreign minister, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also agreed to the ceasefire, making the situation even more precarious in the wake of Nasrallah’s death.
In the days leading up to the assassination, Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to the White House and a prominent US diplomat, was scheduled to travel to Lebanon to negotiate the terms of the 21-day ceasefire. Hochstein has long been involved in mediating sensitive issues in the Middle East, including maritime disputes between Lebanon and Israel. His mission this time was to stabilize a region on the edge of renewed conflict, but Nasrallah’s death has cast doubt on what could have been a crucial step towards peace.
“They told us that Mr. Netanyahu agreed on this and so we also got the agreement of Hezbollah on that,” Habib reiterated in his interview. The last-minute assassination has left many wondering whether Nasrallah’s elimination was a strategic move to derail peace talks or simply a continuation of Israel’s longstanding policy of targeting Hezbollah leadership.
Hassan Nasrallah, a figurehead in Lebanon’s complex political landscape and the leader of Hezbollah since 1992, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold located in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The airstrike, which was part of a broader Israeli military operation aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s influence, marked the culmination of rising tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group in recent months. Nasrallah had long been considered a prime target for Israel due to Hezbollah’s military capabilities and its influence in Lebanese politics.
The assassination has sent shockwaves throughout Lebanon, with Hezbollah supporters and many Lebanese citizens mourning Nasrallah’s death, while others worry about the consequences it may have on Lebanon’s already fragile political and economic situation. For Hezbollah, Nasrallah was more than just a military leader—he was a symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation and Western influence in the Middle East. His death leaves a significant vacuum within the organization, which has now vowed to retaliate against Israel for the killing of its leader.
The killing of Hassan Nasrallah has thrown Lebanon into a state of uncertainty. Lebanon has been grappling with a severe economic crisis, political paralysis, and now, the potential for escalating military conflict with Israel. For many Lebanese citizens, Nasrallah’s death represents a tipping point that could plunge the country into deeper turmoil.
In Beirut, the streets of the southern suburbs were filled with mourners in the immediate aftermath of the airstrike, with chants of “Death to Israel” echoing through the air. Hezbollah’s media outlets have called Nasrallah’s assassination a “declaration of war” and warned that Israel would face severe consequences. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government, under the leadership of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, has called for calm, though it remains unclear how the country will navigate the crisis without descending into chaos.
Nasrallah’s death also poses a significant challenge for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which have struggled to maintain order in a country deeply divided along sectarian lines. Hezbollah remains one of the most powerful political and military forces in Lebanon, and the LAF has often found itself unable to challenge the group directly. Now, with the death of Nasrallah, many fear that Hezbollah may take more aggressive actions against Israel, potentially dragging Lebanon into a larger regional conflict.
The international community has closely monitored developments in Lebanon, with the US, France, and Israel all playing critical roles in the region’s geopolitics. Following Nasrallah’s death, President Biden called for restraint from both sides, emphasizing the importance of preventing an escalation that could destabilize the entire region. However, some analysts believe that Nasrallah’s assassination may complicate US efforts to broker peace, as Hezbollah is likely to retaliate in the coming weeks.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has taken a keen interest in Lebanon’s political situation since the Beirut port explosion in 2020, expressed his concerns over the rising tensions. France, with its historical ties to Lebanon, has been actively involved in promoting stability and has backed ceasefire negotiations between Hezbollah and Israel. Macron’s involvement was seen as crucial in the ceasefire process, and Nasrallah’s death could undermine these diplomatic efforts.
For Israel, the assassination of Nasrallah marks a major victory in its long-standing campaign against Hezbollah. Israeli officials have repeatedly emphasized the existential threat posed by Hezbollah’s growing arsenal of rockets and military capabilities. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had agreed to the ceasefire negotiations, has remained defiant in the face of international criticism, asserting Israel’s right to defend itself from Hezbollah’s provocations.
Hassan Nasrallah’s death leaves a leadership void in Hezbollah, which has thrived under his command for over two decades. Nasrallah transformed Hezbollah from a local Lebanese resistance group into a major political and military force in the Middle East. Under his leadership, Hezbollah fought numerous battles against Israel, most notably during the 2006 Lebanon War, and has been heavily involved in regional conflicts, including the Syrian Civil War, where it has supported the Assad regime.
Nasrallah’s successor is yet to be named, but whoever takes the helm of Hezbollah will face immense challenges. The group’s military capabilities remain strong, but it has also been weakened by Lebanon’s economic collapse, growing public discontent, and its own heavy involvement in regional conflicts. Moreover, Nasrallah’s death may lead to internal divisions within Hezbollah, as different factions vie for control.
In addition, Hezbollah will have to navigate increasing pressure from both Israel and international actors. The group’s deep ties with Iran, which has provided financial and military support, may become even more critical as it faces the prospect of further Israeli airstrikes. Tehran has condemned Nasrallah’s assassination, with Iranian officials calling it a “cowardly act” and vowing to support Hezbollah in its struggle against Israel.
The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah underscores the fragility of peace efforts in the Middle East. Despite the efforts of global powers like the US and France to broker a ceasefire, the situation between Hezbollah and Israel remains perilous. Nasrallah’s death not only derailed the ceasefire but has also escalated tensions to levels unseen in recent years.
As Lebanon mourns the loss of one of its most prominent figures, the country’s future remains uncertain. For many Lebanese, the assassination represents a turning point, not just in their country’s conflict with Israel, but in Lebanon’s internal political dynamics. Hezbollah’s next moves will be critical in determining whether the country can avoid further violence or whether it will be drawn into a broader regional conflict.
In the coming days and weeks, all eyes will be on Lebanon and Israel as the world waits to see whether Nasrallah’s death will ignite a new wave of violence or if diplomatic efforts can still salvage the ceasefire. The international community must act quickly to prevent further bloodshed and ensure that Lebanon does not spiral into another devastating war.
Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination is a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. While the ceasefire agreement had the potential to prevent further violence, Nasrallah’s death has thrown the region into uncertainty. The world now watches anxiously as Lebanon grapples with the loss of its Hezbollah leader and the possible repercussions for the broader Middle East. With tensions rising and the future of Hezbollah’s leadership in question, the next chapter of this long-standing conflict is poised to be one of the most critical yet.
