Hezbollah's enduring power: Nasrallah may be gone, but the terror machine lives on

A massive turnout at a memorial for Nasrallah on Sunday revealed the deep roots of Hezbollah’s influence, as crowds chanting “Death to Israel, Death to America” filled the streets. Despite varying estimates of attendance—ranging from a reported 1.4 million by Lebanon’s National News Agency to a more conservative 450,000 from the Associated Press—it was clear that Hezbollah's support remains unwavering, far exceeding the 150,000 who attended former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s funeral in 2005.

The crowd at the memorial was not only made up of Hezbollah's core supporters but also included members of Lebanon’s Amal Party, self-identified Christians, and a number of antisemitic social media figures, as noted by researcher David Daoud. This broad base of support highlights Hezbollah's pervasive influence across Lebanon, especially within the Shi’ite community, where the terror group is deeply entrenched. In Lebanon's 2022 elections, Hezbollah garnered 356,000 votes, and recent polls reveal staggering approval ratings of 85%-93% among Shi’ites. Following the ceasefire in December, Shi’ites waved Hezbollah flags and hailed the group as the "victorious resistance," demonstrating that Hezbollah’s grip on the community is as strong as ever.

Lebanon’s political leadership has shown little desire to confront Hezbollah directly. Both Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and President Joseph Aoun have insisted that Hezbollah's disarmament can only come through internal Lebanese dialogue, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has formed a cabinet with Hezbollah’s approval.

While Hezbollah may have been militarily weakened, analysts argue that it still retains enough firepower to resist any efforts to disarm it. Attempting such a move could ignite another devastating civil war. With widespread support and political backing, Hezbollah has the time it needs to rebuild and rearm. Though Nasrallah is gone, the fanatical network he created ensures that Hezbollah's terror machine will continue operating, posing an ongoing threat to Israel and the region.