Internal divisions have developed within Hezbollah’s ranks as the organization reels from tactical and operational setbacks, sources reveal.
According to Al Arabiya, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has been curbing the authority of Wafiq Sala, the head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit. Sala’s role focuses largely on Hezbollah’s security apparatus and has maintained a senior position in the organization since 1987.
Sala was initially appointed to his position by Hassan Nasrallah, and is closely associated with other Hezbollah officials who had close relationships with the former secretary general. Qassem’s reforms have incurred a rift with officials who more closely identify with Nasrallah.
The reported internal tensions come as Hezbollah faces a series of political setbacks inside Lebanon. Hezbollah has been scrutinizing President Joseph Aoun with increased intensity, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri broke from his traditional alliance with Hezbollah in meeting Aoun at the Baabda palace.
At the same time, the Lebanese state improves its operational capacity in southern Lebanon, one of Hezbollah’s primary bases for its power, and public opinion and parliamentary politics continues to turn away from the organization.
As Hezbollah experiences these challenges, Qassem’s leadership reveals a transition away from Nasrallah’s charismatic leadership and towards a more bureaucratic structure defined by a focus on securing the organization’s ranks.
According to Nidaa al-Watan, Hezbollah has been carrying out internal investigations in pursuit of members taking part in Israeli breaching operations in the organization’s security apparatus. Hezbollah has reportedly only been turning in a small number of suspects to the security services and handling most alleged human breaches through an internal judicial body.
Having been significantly weakened by Israeli strikes on key Hezbollah leadership and infrastructure, Qassem’s reforms and internal investigations point to growing divisions inside the organization as Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese society continues to wane
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