Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Collective Command Will Lead Hezbollah Until End of War

Head of Hezbollah's political council Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed. (Sayyed's website)
Head of Hezbollah's political council Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed. (Sayyed's website)
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Collective Command Will Lead Hezbollah Until End of War

Head of Hezbollah's political council Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed. (Sayyed's website)
Head of Hezbollah's political council Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed. (Sayyed's website)

Reports have emerged that Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, the head of Hezbollah's’ political council, may be named successor to the Iran-backed party’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah who was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs in late September.

Sayyed’s name emerged after the presumed death of Hezbollah executive council leader and potential Nasrallah successor Hashem Safieddine in an Israeli strike on the suburbs on Thursday. Hezbollah has yet to confirm his death.

Informed sources categorically denied that Sayyed was being viewed as a successor.

“No one is currently nominated to succeed Nasrallah,” they said. “The party is now being led collectively.”

In a statement on Saturday, Hezbollah’s media relations office refuted the “false reports and baseless rumors” about the organization of the party, saying such reports were part of a “psychological war against the resistance.”

Hezbollah critic Ali al-Amin ruled out that the party would name a new secretary general given Nasrallah and Safieddine’s fate.

“Any candidate, regardless of who they are, is a candidate for death,” he stressed.

“The party is in a state of confusion and loss and cannot take such a step right now. Naim Qassem is serving as acting secretary general anyway given his role as the party’s deputy leader.”

Who is Sayyed?

Sayyed was born in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region in 1955. He pursued intense Shiite religious studies before joining Hezbollah in the first years of its formation in the early 1980s.

He helped develop the party’s political and military movement. He rose up the ranks in the group until he became head of its political council where he is responsible for managing Hezbollah’s general policies and communication and relations between Lebanese and international political forces.

According to Amin, Sayyed served as the Amal movement’s envoy to Iran before the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 80s. He then joined Hezbollah and read out the party’s statement that announced its official establishment, meaning he was its official spokesman in February 1985.

Sayyed is close to Lebanese MP Jamil al-Sayyed. He was head of Hezbollah's Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc from 1992 to 1996.

Amin remarked: “The fact that Sayyed is approaching 70 years of age doesn’t make him a suitable candidate for the position of secretary general, especially in these circumstances.”

He therefore dismissed reports that he was a possible candidate, adding that Sayyed had been “effectively marginalized and semi-retired for the past 15 years. The only news we hear about him as of late are his visits to the Maronite Patriarchate.”

“Moreover, he is not seen as a core leading member of the party, whose major leaders have been assassinated” by Israel, he noted.



Half of Yemen’s Population Face Mounting Risks from Climate Change

Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
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Half of Yemen’s Population Face Mounting Risks from Climate Change

Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)
Al-Garehi Al-Gharbi camp in the Abs district of north-west Yemen. (Norwegian Refugee Council)

Already suffering from a prolonged conflict as a result of the Houthi coup against the legitimate authority, Yemen is facing mounting risks brought on by climate change, the World Bank warned on Thursday.
Many populations are facing threats from climate change, such as extreme heat, drought, and floods, the WB said in its newly released Yemen Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR).
Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti said that Yemen is facing an unprecedented convergence of crises — conflict, climate change, and poverty.
He called for immediate and decisive action on climate resilience, a matter of survival for millions of Yemenis.
“By investing in water security, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy, Yemen can safeguard human capital, build resilience and lay the foundations for a path to sustainable recovery,” he said.
The WB report said half of Yemenis are already exposed to at least one climate hazard — extreme heat, drought, or flooding — with compounding effects on food insecurity and poverty.
These risks, it showed, are expected to intensify without immediate action and Yemen’s annual GDP could decline by an average of 3.9% by 2040 under pessimistic climate scenarios, largely due to decreased agricultural productivity and infrastructure damage.
Navigating Challenges
Despite these challenges, the CCDR identifies strategic opportunities to strengthen resilience, improve food and water security, and unlock sustainable growth, the WB report noted.
For example, it said, targeted investments in water storage and groundwater management, coupled with adaptive agriculture techniques could lead to productivity gains of up to 13.5% in crop production under optimistic climate scenarios for the period of 2041 to 2050.
The report also spoke about risks to the fisheries sector, considered as a critical source of livelihood for many Yemenis.
Its projections indicate a potential decline of up to 23% in fish stocks due to rising sea temperatures and altered marine ecosystems.

The WB report also said that climate change exacerbates existing health challenges in Yemen, leading to increased healthcare costs and strain on already fragile health systems.
“It is projected that climate-related health issues could cost the country over $5 billion in excess health costs by 2050,” it noted.
“Addressing these challenges requires integrating climate resilience into public health planning, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children.”
Concerning infrastructure, the report said urban areas and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable, and without adaptation measures, economic shocks will disproportionately affect already fragile communities.
As for the private sector, it has a critical role to play in addressing Yemen’s pressing development challenges, said Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East.
“Harnessing its potential through innovative financing mechanisms and guarantee instruments and creating a conducive investment climate can help mobilize the climate-focused funding the country urgently needs to build a greener and more resilient future,” he said.
The WB report also said that Yemen also has immense potential for renewable energy, which could serve as a key component of its climate response and recovery.
It showed that harnessing renewable energy resources not only offers a pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels but also enables the creation of a more resilient power infrastructure.
“This will be essential in supporting vital services such as healthcare, water supply, and food distribution, particularly in conflict-affected areas,” it said.
Global Coordination
The World Bank highlighted the significant commitments and coordination from the international community to support Yemen in coping with climate shocks and building broader resilience.
It said securing sustainable peace will be required to unlock the financing and take the action needed to build long-term resilience to climate change.
The CCDR then underscored the importance of flexible, risk-informed decision-making to adapt climate actions to Yemen's uncertain political landscape.
Under a “Peace and Prosperity” scenario, it said, a higher level of adaptation can be implemented, yielding greater economic and social benefits.
Yemeni Minister of Water and Environment, Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi, stressed the importance of integrating climate action into development strategies and adapting to climate fluctuations.
The minister was speaking at a special session to discuss the WB report on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He said the report represents a significant contribution for Yemen in addressing climate change and will facilitate access to various climate financing options amid the structural and technical fragility faced by institutions due to the war.
The report, Al-Sharjabi added, aligns closely with Yemen's urgent priorities, particularly in the areas of water and food security, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting area-based climate adaptation approaches.