Hezbollah and Iran: Removing Operatives Under the Banner of Martyrdom and Using Oppressive Methods

Amid the region's severe crises, Hezbollah is engaging in actions reminiscent of the repressive tactics used in Afghanistan. A striking example is the mysterious death of Hussein Shukr, nephew of Hezbollah’s military commander, Fouad Shukr.

Speculation swirls around the circumstances, ranging from accidental gunfire in Ouzai to assassination in Syria or Lebanon, with some even suggesting an Israeli airstrike as the cause. In this context, rumors and unofficial reports about the circumstances of his death have been on the rise, though no definitive confirmation has emerged so far.

Despite efforts to frame his death as that of a martyr, the reality is evident: Hussein Shukr was eliminated due to suspicions of being an agent. Pro-Hezbollah media is spreading false reports, while Hezbollah's silence on issuing an official obituary raises further questions about what truly transpired.

Meanwhile, Sabereen News and other media outlets are portraying his death as an assassination, but sources linked to the party have not confirmed that any members were killed in the Israeli raids on Syria.

Hezbollah’s leadership uses a brutal tactic of removing individuals they consider agents or traitors and then presenting them as “martyrs” to protect their public image and suppress internal dissent. This approach is not merely a media strategy but a systematic policy designed to enhance the party’s image and suppress dissent within a society that highly venerates martyrdom.

By portraying these individuals as martyrs, the party aims to obscure internal conflicts and behaviors that could provoke public criticism. Nawaf al-Moussawi warns of increasing tensions, where dissenting voices face harsh suppression. In this charged atmosphere, criticism is off-limits, and there’s no place for advocates of peace or critics of the war.

Opponents, including both journalists and others, have become more vulnerable and may face severe repercussions. This repressive policy underscores the gravity of the current situation and illustrates how the party is using the circumstances to suppress any form of dissent and free expression.
Iran and Hezbollah are inseparable, operating as two sides of the same coin. Both follow similar repressive policies and employ the same tactics to eliminate dissent. Hussein Shukr’s death, branded as “On the Road to Jerusalem,” is merely a convenient and strategic liquidation aimed at bolstering the party’s jihadist image and perpetuating its martyrdom narrative.

In this broader picture, Iran has become the epicenter of regional turmoil, channeling its crises through sectarian militias that wreak havoc under deceptive pretenses. The expected fallout from recent incidents, such as the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, remains shrouded in uncertainty, much like previous strikes against the mullahs' operatives.

Iran, viewed as a malign force that needs to be addressed, demands a decisive approach that involves supporting internal opposition to weaken the regime and curb its ability to spread its crises. This requires robust and strategic measures to counteract Iran’s expansionist policies effectively.