in Lebanon, the death of Hassan Nasrallah upsets Shiites and worries Christians

On Saturday, the announcement of the death of the Hezbollah leader provoked anger among the Shiite community from which he came. As for Christians, they fear repercussions in Lebanon and throughout the region.

Israel announced on Saturday September 28 that the leader of the pro-Iranian militia had been killed the day before by a strike in his stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hezbollah confirmed his death early this afternoon. There is a lot of anger and resentment within this Shiite Muslim community who truly adored Hassan Nasrallah.

Shiites who have long hoped that the information from the Israeli army is false, before this massive blow at the beginning of the afternoon. “I cried a lot because we lost a great man, says Rim, who is originally from Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon. He wanted to die as a martyr, he succeeded. He is happy now. I’m sad, but another Lord Hassan will come one day.”

“We all want to die as martyrs, we are not afraid of death, we don’t care. If we die, we don’t care.”

Rim, originally from southern Lebanon

at franceinfo

These Shiites now feel like orphans. They revered their charismatic leader who was the subject of a veritable cult of personality. “We are sad because he was our father, adds Nour, also from southern Lebanon. We believed in him. He is in heaven but this ordeal makes us stronger.” Is there a desire for revenge? “Yes, we all want that, that’s what everyone here wants,” she replies.

If the Shiite Muslim community is upset by the death of its leader, Christians are very worried. Like Marc, who fears repercussions in Lebanon and throughout the region. “Whether we like him or not, we are shocked. We fear the void, we don’t know what awaits us. We feel in danger, we didn’t expect this news. One of the greatest leaders of the region… He gave us the image of a great power, which was destroyed in a second. It’s incredible.

“I hope that we will not become like the countries where there is chaos, like Iraq or Libya, all the countries around us. And we are one of the smallest countries in the world, that’s afraid too.”

Marc, Christian living in Lebanon

at franceinfo

And to prevent possible incidents or clashes between communities, the Lebanese army deployed en masse in the streets of Beirut, where gunshots rang out on Saturday afternoon, shots in the air from Hassan’s supporters Nasrallah who showed their anger.