In the days following Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s death in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, Iraq has seen a surge of newborns named in his honour.
According to Iraq’s health ministry, around 100 babies across the country were registered under the name “Nasrallah”.
Nasrallah, seen as a symbol of resistance against Israeli and Western influence in many Arab nations, commanded a significant following in Iraq, particularly among the country’s majority Shia community.
His assassination has intensified anger across Iraq. Large-scale protests erupted in cities across the nation, condemning Israel’s actions and declaring the killing a violation of international law.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani described Nasrallah as “a martyr on the path of the righteous.” During a three-day state mourning, vigils were held nationwide to honour the Hezbollah leader, who is revered by many as a symbol of resistance against Israel and Western influence in the region.
Nasrallah’s ties to Iraq run deep, rooted in both religion and political ideology. Born to humble beginnings in 1960, Nasrallah went on to study Islam at a Shia seminary in the Iraqi city of Najaf. It was here that his political ideology took shape as he joined the Dawa party, eventually setting him on a path that would define his militant and political career.
Nasrallah’s rise within Hezbollah began in 1982, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. Formed with the backing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah was initially a militia aimed at resisting Israeli forces.
Nasrallah took over leadership in 1992 after the assassination of his predecessor and mentor, Abbas Musawi. Over the next three decades, he transformed Hezbollah into a regional powerhouse, influencing conflicts from Syria to Yemen and training Palestinian fighters in Gaza.
Under Nasrallah’s leadership, Hezbollah’s power grew, both militarily and politically. The organisation helped provide missiles and rockets to groups like Hamas and militias in Iraq and Yemen, all part of a broader ‘Axis of Resistance’ to Israel and its allies.
Nasrallah was particularly popular among Iraqis critical of the US presence in Iraq following the 2003 invasion, solidifying his image as a symbol of resistance to Western intervention.
Source Agencies
