Syrians Mourn Hezbollah Leader Killed in Israeli Strike, Reports Reuters

By Kinda Makieh and Firas Makdesi

DAMASCUS – Flags were displayed at half-mast in Damascus on Sunday, as residents expressed their shock following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. His fighters played a significant role in supporting the Syrian army during the country’s devastating civil war.

Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday, amidst a significant intensification of hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, occurring concurrently with the conflict in Gaza.

Syria declared three days of national mourning, with President Bashar al-Assad stating that Nasrallah would "remain in the memory of Syrians."

In the capital, many residents were left in disbelief over the news of Nasrallah’s death. Marwa Barkouka remarked, "He can’t die. He always dreamed of martyrdom, and while this is fitting, it’s still so hard to accept. He remains alive, not just as a martyr but because he lives inside us. We grew up with him here."

The Syrian conflict began in 2011, originally sparked by protests against Assad’s regime. Nasrallah, in 2012, called for reform in Syria but changed course by 2013, stating that Hezbollah would join the fight to prevent the country from falling into the hands of Sunni jihadists, the U.S., and Israel.

Many believe Hezbollah’s involvement was crucial for several key victories along the Syria-Lebanon border and in other cities. "For us, this man was like an entire nation. We had dignity, and now it’s gone," commented Ibrahim Al-Ahmad, another resident of Damascus.

However, Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria, alongside Assad’s allies Iran and Russia, also strained relations with the Sunni Arab world and exacerbated sectarian divisions across the region.

Assad had been largely isolated from the Arab world for a decade, but Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year. The league previously shifted from labeling Hezbollah as a "terrorist organization," yet relations with Gulf countries remain tense.

"As for someone of his stature, the entire Arab nation didn’t defend him; they left him," said Baker Haidar Al-Wasiti, another resident of Damascus. "We grew up hearing his voice. We always looked to him to lift our spirits."