Khaberni - Following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Haitham Ali Al-Tabtaba'i, who was described by Israeli circles as "Hezbollah's Chief of Staff," attention is turning to the identity of the person who will take over this sensitive position within the organization in the upcoming phase, amidst increasing speculation about multiple names entering the "succession race."
In a detailed report, the newspaper "Israel Hayom" reviewed the leading candidates, according to Israeli estimates, suggesting that the choice would be among several prominent military and security leaders within the organization.
Mohammed Haider: The Leading Candidate
Israeli estimates place Mohammed Haider, aged sixty-six and known as "Abu Ali," at the forefront of candidates. The United States describes him as a "military advisor" within the organization, and he survived an assassination attempt during the recent war, according to what the newspaper reports from Western sources.
Haider is considered one of the strategic security minds in Hezbollah, having previously held a parliamentary seat within the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc between 2005 and 2009, providing him with a mix of military and political experience. The newspaper notes that his influence was enhanced after the killings of Imad Mughniyeh in 2008 and Mustafa Badreddine in 2016.
Talal Hamiyah: "The Phantom" and the Man of External Operations
The second name on the list of candidates is Talal Hamiyah, also known as "Ismat Mazarani," head of Unit 910 responsible for Hezbollah's external operations.
The U.S. "Rewards for Justice" office has offered a reward of up to seven million dollars for any information leading to him, reflecting the international interest in his role.
Hamiyah is among the founding generation of the party and is dubbed "The Phantom" in security and media circles due to his rare public appearances and his strictness in maintaining security secrecy.
Israeli estimates suggest that the organization may opt for a leader from within the geographic units operating in Lebanon, such as the "Aziz" and "Nasser" units in the south, or the "Badr" unit stretching between the Litani and Sidon, reflecting the importance of the Lebanese front in the military calculations of the organization.
Khidr Yusuf Nader, a Less Fortunate Candidate
Khidr Yusuf Nader, head of the Security Unit 900, also emerges as a name. This unit is likened to an "internal counter-espionage agency" in some estimates, as it oversees thwarting espionage attempts, monitoring political movements, and tracking foreign entities within the environment that supports the party.
However, the same Israeli sources speculate that Nader's chances are less likely compared to the other names proposed, due to the nature of his internal security position, which relies more on secrecy than on direct operational command on the front lines.
A Possible Role for Tehran in Deciding the Choice
Other estimates suggest that Tehran may play a direct role in choosing the next figure, and possibly appointing a leader from the "Quds Force" to temporarily take on the task, especially since Iran had sent several of its generals to Lebanon during the recent war, one of whom was killed in the southern suburbs alongside Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, as noted by the newspaper.
Hezbollah's Declaration and Israel's Stance
Hezbollah officially announced the martyrdom of Haitham Ali Al-Tabtaba'i as a result of the Israeli raid that targeted the Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs of Beirut, affirming that he "ascended as a martyr in sacrifice for Lebanon and its people."
In contrast, the head of the Israeli General Staff, Eyal Zamir, stated that Al-Tabtaba'i was "the prominent leader within Hezbollah," in a description that reflects, on one hand, the size of his military role within the organization, and contributes, on the other hand, to raising the regional and international interest in the identity of his successor in the position described by Israeli circles as that of "Chief of Staff" within the organization.
