A graffiti reading "At your command Nasrallah," painted on the rubble of a house destroyed by an Israeli bombing on April 28, 2025, in the village of Chamaa, in southern Lebanon. Photo Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour
Three years later, a new version of what happened on Oct. 7 and 8, 2023, within Hezbollah's leadership is circulating. This first quasi-official version presented by the organization raises questions, particularly regarding its timing. According to this account, slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made the decision to open hostilities reluctantly and wanted to avoid an open war in Lebanon. However, the situation slipped out of his control. Eleven months later, when Nasrallah was assassinated along with many other leaders, the country already faced an open war. With this version of events making the rounds today, Hezbollah is clearly seeking to absolve itself in the eyes of the Lebanese, as criticism grows over its role in triggering the first round of the war and as it becomes more isolated than ever on the domestic sphere. ...
Three years later, a new version of what happened on Oct. 7 and 8, 2023, within Hezbollah's leadership is circulating. This first quasi-official version presented by the organization raises questions, particularly regarding its timing. According to this account, slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made the decision to open hostilities reluctantly and wanted to avoid an open war in Lebanon. However, the situation slipped out of his control. Eleven months later, when Nasrallah was assassinated along with many other leaders, the country already faced an open war. With this version of events making the rounds today, Hezbollah is clearly seeking to absolve itself in the eyes of the Lebanese, as criticism grows over its role in triggering the first round of the war and as it becomes more isolated than ever on the domestic sphere. ...