Hezbollah’s Retreat Underground: What Hassan Nasrallah’s Speech Reveals About the Group’s Vulnerability

Jack daniel
3 min readSep 20, 2024

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In the wake of a series of unprecedented attacks on Hezbollah, the signs of a significant shift in the group’s posture were laid bare during Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s latest speech. The absence of a public gathering to watch the address, a first in years, is one of the many indicators that Hezbollah has been forced deeper underground, both figuratively and literally.

Nasrallah’s speech, which followed a devastating series of attacks that obliterated thousands of Hezbollah wireless devices earlier this week, appeared to be pre-recorded. Typically, Nasrallah emphasizes that his speeches are broadcasted live, as a show of defiance and strength. However, his lack of response to Israel’s sonic booms, which rattled the Lebanese capital during the speech, raised doubts. Normally, Nasrallah would address such an incident, reaffirming that he was speaking live. The leader’s uncharacteristic silence during the disruption symbolized the new reality Hezbollah faces — one where its every move is more exposed.

This new vulnerability became evident when Nasrallah himself admitted to the major blow dealt to his organization, describing it as unprecedented in Hezbollah’s history. The explosions targeting Hezbollah’s pagers and walkie-talkies killed at least 37 individuals, including children, and injured nearly 3,000. In a chilling dystopian display of modern warfare, Hezbollah was blindsided by an attack on its old-fashioned communication tools, which they had adopted to avoid Israeli cyber-infiltration.

The psychological effect of the attack was undeniable. Nasrallah’s speech was subdued, his promises of a reckoning vague. “The reckoning will come,” he assured, but refused to elaborate on the nature or timing of retaliation. This marked a stark departure from Nasrallah’s usual bravado and hinted at the deep uncertainty that now grips Hezbollah. Even as he pledged to continue supporting Gaza and to resist Israel’s encroachment on Lebanon’s southern borders, the tone of his speech signaled a cautious recalibration rather than an imminent, forceful response.

Hezbollah’s core identity has long been intertwined with its ability to defy Israeli surveillance and aggression, with live broadcasts symbolizing its resilience. In 2006, during Lebanon’s last all-out war with Israel, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television stayed on air despite a relentless bombing campaign. The group’s broadcasts became a symbol of its unyielding resistance. But the recent attacks shattered this myth of invulnerability. For the first time, Hezbollah was forced to reckon with a future where it is not as elusive as it once believed.

As Nasrallah acknowledged, Hezbollah now faces an unprecedented challenge. The group’s reliance on old-school technology, thought to be immune from Israeli cyber-attacks, was ruthlessly exploited. This unexpected weakness has pushed the organization further into the shadows, making Nasrallah’s speech a symbolic reflection of Hezbollah’s current state — hidden, weakened, but still clinging to defiance.

While Nasrallah promised a response to the attacks, the secrecy around Hezbollah’s next move underscores the precarious situation the group finds itself in. Hezbollah’s past strategy of broadcasting its resilience may no longer be viable, as the group is forced to adopt a more clandestine approach to its operations.

In the face of this new reality, Hezbollah’s future will depend on how well it can adapt to the ever-evolving tactics of its enemies. Whether Nasrallah’s promise of retribution materializes remains to be seen, but the militant group has undeniably been shaken, driven underground in a way that challenges its core narrative of strength and invincibility.

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Jack daniel

Do not judge me before u know me, but just to inform u, you won’t like me