Politics makes strange bedfellows. Some Jihadists happy with the assasination of Nasrallah

A quick look at the Turkish Twittersphere confirmed my expectations. Some Jihadists and Islamists are actually happy. Since the civil war in Syria, many Turkish jihadists lost their uneasy sympathy with Hezbollah, who supported the Asad regime. But the actual celebrations come from “the Syrian opposition:”

Celebrations in Opposition-Controlled Areas

While the Syrian government officially condemned Nasrallah’s killing, there were reports of celebrations in areas outside of government control[5]. Specifically:

• In the jihadist-run rebel bastion of Idlib, some groups celebrated Nasrallah’s death[5].
• These celebrations occurred in areas that are not under the control of the Syrian government, which has been supported by Hezbollah in the past.

Mixed Reactions Across the Middle East

The assassination sparked a range of reactions across the region:

• Many official state actors and allied groups condemned the killing, including Iran, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad[1][2][3].
• However, the search results indicate that there were “pockets of revelry” in some parts of the Middle East, including areas in Syria and even Iran[5].

Ideological Divisions

The celebratory reactions from some jihadist groups likely stem from ideological and sectarian differences:

• Hezbollah is a Shi’a Islamist organization, while many jihadist groups in places like Idlib are Sunni.
• These groups have often been on opposing sides in regional conflicts, particularly in Syria where Hezbollah fought alongside the Assad regime against various rebel and jihadist factions.

It’s important to note that while some jihadist groups may have celebrated, the majority of official responses from state actors and major militant organizations in the region expressed condemnation of the assassination and solidarity with Hezbollah[1][2][3][4].

Citations:
1. NPR – Hezbollah’s Nasrallah: World Reaction to Israel’s Strike
2. Euronews – European and Global Reactions to Israeli Strikes that Killed Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah
3. Mehr News – Islamic Jihad Offers Condolences on Nasrallah’s Martyrdom
4. France24 – World Figures React to the Death of Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
5. Times of Israel – Pockets of Revelry at Nasrallah Killing Across Middle East