Hezbollah Adapts After Leadership Losses, Relies More on Iran

A new study indicates that Hezbollah has maintained its organizational and military structure following the elimination of its former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and dozens of other senior commanders. However, the group has not yet fully recovered its previous combat effectiveness. Hezbollah is currently undergoing a shift in its management system, promoting younger commanders, and increasing its reliance on Iran, according to research by Yuval Rosenberg of the National Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Intelligence Studies. The study, reported by "Maariv," analyzes the changes within Hezbollah's leadership after significant losses incurred during combat operations, which severely damaged its top command. The research highlights that after Nasrallah and his designated successor Hashem Safi al-Din were killed, the organization had to reassign key positions and establish a new management system. This involves integrating experienced members with less-known commanders, with most new appointments kept confidential to hinder Israeli intelligence penetration and reduce the vulnerability of the command structure. Since becoming Secretary-General in October 2024, Naim Qassem has focused on consolidating power and redistributing responsibilities. His leadership style differs from Nasrallah's, relying more on institutional systems and veteran cooperation than personal authority. The study notes that Hezbollah is promoting younger commanders and limiting information about leadership appointments to ensure command continuity amidst ongoing strikes. The organization is also considering greater autonomy for smaller units, a model potentially beneficial for guerrilla warfare. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is actively assisting Hezbollah in rebuilding its military structure, training commanders, and updating management mechanisms, with reports suggesting Iranian involvement in decision-making and operational guidance. While this increased Iranian influence and a move towards a more decentralized system offer resilience against Israeli strikes, it may also complicate coordination and weaken internal cohesion. The research concludes that while Hezbollah has preserved organizational continuity, it has not yet restored the command quality and combat readiness of the Nasrallah era. The new leadership faces the challenge of effective interaction between political and military wings, inter-unit coordination, and managing relations with Iran, with the coherence of the new system being a key factor in its future development.