Kassir brothers: Hezbollah’s strategic planners from operations to logistics to economic initiatives

By Hiba Morad and Latifa al Husseini

Two weeks into the Israeli regime’s offensive on Lebanon in September 2024, and just days after the martyrdom of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel assassinated two senior strategic figures within the resistance movement.

Their martyrdom marked a significant loss for the Lebanese resistance leadership and operational planning of the movement during a critical phase of the recent war.

“My father, Haj Mohammad Kassir(Aliases Salah, Mr. Fadi, Haj Majed) and my uncle Haj Hassan Kassir (Alias Saleh) were killed by Israel on October 1 and 2, respectively,” Ahmad, Haj Mohammad’s son, told the Press TV website on his first martyrdom anniversary.

The two men were wanted by the United States, with a reward of up to $ 10 million for information leading to the arrest of Haj Mohammad alone.

Early beginnings

According to his son’s account shared with the Press TV website, Haj Mohammad began working with senior Hezbollah commander Sayyed Fuad Shokr in 1985 on matters concerning security and arms procurement for the resistance in South Lebanon.

Their efforts were primarily aimed at resisting and repelling the Israeli occupation forces that had invaded Lebanon in 1983.

“He provided the resistance movement with weapons, and played a vital role in what was known as the “self-sacrifice operations”. Also, he managed different tasks related to logistics until the 2000 Liberation of South Lebanon,” Ahmad said.

Haj Mohammad was widely regarded as a strategic planner within the resistance, and as such, it was generally advised that he refrain from participating directly in ground operations.

However, according to his son, Haj Mohammad persistently requested to be involved and was eventually permitted to take part in one of South Lebanon’s major resistance operations—known as the Shehin operation.

According to reports, on April 27, 1998, the Islamic Resistance launched a series of coordinated operations targeting enemy forces, with Haj Mohammad actively participating in them.

The operations began at dawn, when resistance fighters ambushed a Zionist ground unit maneuvering near the Shehin area in the Tyre district.

Upon arrival at the ambush site, a powerful explosive device was detonated, inflicting significant casualties among the Israeli soldiers. Simultaneously, a second group of fighters engaged the remaining enemy personnel at close range using machine guns. Enemy forces responded by deploying helicopters to evacuate their dead and wounded from the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Haj Hassan, who is the son-in-law of martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was very active on the ground and known for participating in major operations in South Lebanon.

His nephew told the Press TV website that he joined the resistance special forces in the 90s and took part in major operations, one of which was the Beit Yahoun operation on 15 May 1999.”

On that day, the resistance fighters attacked the occupation forces’ position at Beit Yahoun in the occupied zone in southern Lebanon. The position was heavily reinforced.

It served as a protection point and controller for the main Israeli military crossing point between the occupied zone and the liberated areas in southern Lebanon. The position controlled the movement of residents of the occupied towns and villages on their visits into and outside the occupied territories.

The fighters regained the position from the Israeli soldiers and their collaborators (the SLA), captured two of them and a troop carrier, and drove that to the liberated areas after attacking the crossing point and clearing the way for a troop carrier to cross.

“Haj Hassan is the resistance fighter shown in one of the videos driving the tank and handing a rifle to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah at the beginning of the liberation of South Lebanon, and he later married Sayyed’s daughter, Zeinab,” Ahmad said.

A self-reliant Hezbollah

According to Ahmad, the two brothers continued to work in the resistance movement in different capacities over the years. However, 2005 marked a turning point.

“In 2005, Haj Mohammad set up what he dubbed the 'economic dossier' in Hezbollah, and suggested that the resistance must have its own income sources and create its own businesses, not only to provide weapons to the resistance fighters, but also for the economy in Lebanon to improve and flourish,” Ahmad told the Press TV website.

The strategic planning of Haj Mohammad allowed Hezbollah to create job opportunities for thousands of families across Lebanon.

“Empowering the people and strengthening the community were central concerns for my father, who is recognized within Hezbollah as a strategic thinker,” Ahmad said.

“He firmly believed that establishing a financially independent Lebanon was essential—not only for the country’s prosperity and self-reliance, but also for its ability to confront external threats, particularly the Israeli occupation, which was still occupying the Shebaa farms and Kafarshouba hills.”

According to his son, Haj Mohammad played a pivotal role in addressing Lebanon’s energy crisis, acting on a direct request from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“He couldn’t stand by and watch the country’s crippling energy crisis devastate Lebanon and its people,” his son told the Press TV website.

Haj Mohammad secured sealed agreements to import diesel and fuel tankers, which were distributed nationwide—reaching citizens of all religious and ethnic backgrounds—at a time when severe fuel shortages had plunged the country into darkness. The initiative was part of Hezbollah’s broader efforts to alleviate the crisis and support the population.

At the time, Hezbollah emphasized that hospitals and other essential services were given priority access to fuel and energy resources.

Ahmad told the Press TV website that Haj Mohammad operated directly under the supervision of senior figures, including Haj Imad, Haj Qassem, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

He also added that, beyond his strategic and logistical roles, Haj Mohammad also played a key part in launching agricultural and industrial initiatives aimed at fostering economic resilience in Lebanon.

“Among these initiatives were trout fish farms and cattle farms—just two examples of the broader network of enterprises established and managed by local communities. These ventures were designed to promote national prosperity, provide livelihoods for members of the resistance, and support Lebanon’s path toward economic autonomy and self-reliance, reducing dependence on external aid and alleviating harsh living conditions,” Ahmad noted.

As Hezbollah’s economy and business flourished—largely due to the efforts of Haj Mohammad and his team, under the supervision of Sayyed Nasrallah—the United States and Israel intensified their campaigns to undermine the group.

It included the dissemination of disinformation and attempts to tarnish the image of the resistance movement, aiming to erode its public support and weaken its operational influence.

In a hearing session years later, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman who was ambassador to Lebanon 2004-2008, admitted that the US provided assistance and support in Lebanon that worked to reduce what he called “Hezbollah’s appeal to Lebanon's youth,” confessing that  the US contributed more than $500 million to this effort since 2006."

Feltman spoke during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 2010 about the US failing conspiratorial scheme; that the US offered aid and money to decrease Hizbullah's attraction in Lebanon.

Unconcerned by smear campaigns

Starting around 2017, the US once again intensified its campaigns of disinformation against Hezbollah. Washington issued reports that the movement generates significant proceeds in cash from its activities.

Zionist-leaning think tanks such as the FDD issued reports claiming that “Hezbollah is a terrorist group which relies on complex trade-based money laundering schemes spanning from South America to Africa to the United States. But for Hezbollah to repatriate this money, the funds must transit the formal Lebanese and international financial systems.”

Numerous accusations were directed at Haj Mohammad, many of which were part of broader attempts to distort the image of the resistance.  In response to these claims, Ahmad recounted that Sayyed Nasrallah once summoned Haj Mohammad for a private meeting.

During the discussion, Sayyed Nasrallah proposed addressing the issue publicly in an upcoming speech, even suggesting he would mention Haj Mohammad by name to clarify that the allegations were part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.

However, Haj Mohammad didn’t want it. While he agreed that the topic should be addressed, he insisted there was no need to mention him personally. Confident in his integrity and unconcerned by the smear campaign, he preferred not to burden Sayyed Nasrallah with the task of defending him publicly.

On January 19, 2018, Sayyed Hassan gave a speech in which he said, “I would like to say to you and to all viewers unequivocally that these are fabrications (on money laundering) and unjust accusations and are not based on facts and are untrue. About this matter, Hezbollah has a very clear religious, legal and moral position. Drug trafficking is haram (forbidden) and prohibited.”

No time to cry 

Ahmad said his father had long believed he would be martyred before Sayyed Nasrallah. Whenever he was urged to prepare a detailed will, he would respond that a brief version already existed, adding, “When I get martyred, ask Sayyed Nasrallah—he knows everything.”

Following Sayyed Nasrallah’s martyrdom, the same question was posed to Haj Mohammad. This time, he fell silent and said, “I need to visit him as he rests in peace.”

His insistence on seeing Sayyed Nasrallah one final time was met with initial resistance from Hezbollah officials, but they ultimately relented. Before heading to the hospital, he told those around him who had intense feelings about the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah.

“This is not the time to cry. Finally, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah got what he wanted.”

On September 30, Haj Mohammad visited him at the hospital. Afterward, he returned to work, handed over all dossiers and operational files to his colleagues and superiors, and delivered the will he had recently written.

Haj Hassan – the companion

Between 2005 and 2006, Haj Hassan joined his brother Haj Mohammad in critical logistical operations, including the transportation of arms through Syria with the help of Iran and the establishment of businesses aimed at financing both the resistance movement and the broader Lebanese community, Ahmad told the Press TV website.

“Among their joint initiatives was the founding of the al-Sajjad chain of supermarkets and pharmacies, designed to offer affordable goods to Lebanese citizens across all religious and ethnic backgrounds. These outlets played a vital role in supporting low-income households, particularly as Lebanon grappled with the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a deepening economic crisis,” he said.

Their collaboration extended far beyond familial ties. Haj Mohammad and Haj Hassan were united in purpose and action, working side by side to advance the resistance’s mission against US imperialism and Israeli occupation, while striving to uplift and empower their society.

Commitment to helping others

One of the most notable shared qualities between Haj Mohammad and Haj Hassan was their deep commitment to helping others—both financially and spiritually.

According to Ahmad, his father, Haj Mohammad, quietly initiated numerous small-scale projects aimed at supporting families in need, offering financial assistance without seeking recognition.

Zeinab Nasrallah, the wife of Haj Hassan, echoed this sentiment. Following his martyrdom, she met many individuals who recounted stories of his generosity and compassion.

“People would come up to me and tell me how he helped them buy a home, pay bills, cover hospital treatment costs, and even spent time resolving family disputes for those who sought his guidance,” she said.

These testimonies reflect a legacy of service and empathy that extended far beyond the battlefield.

Haj Hassan – a son to Hezbollah's chief

Reflecting on the deep bond between her husband and father, Zeinab Nasrallah told the Press TV website that Sayyed Nasrallah treated him like a son.

She noted that Haj Hassan was unwavering in his loyalty and trust. “He never kept secrets from Sayyed Nasrallah and consulted him on everything,” she stated.

For Haj Hassan, Sayyed Nasrallah was more than a leader—he was a guiding figure of immense personal significance. “I believe in Sayyed Hassan, I have faith in him,” he would often tell his wife, expressing a bond that transcended politics, rooted in shared conviction and purpose.

She emphasized that her husband hailed from a family deeply rooted in the resistance.

“He comes from a family of resistance fighters—five brothers who were martyred defending Lebanon and its sovereignty,” she said.

The first among them was Ahmad Kassir, whose legacy left a profound impact on the family. At just 19 years old, Ahmad led a decisive operation against Israeli forces in 1982, an act that significantly shaped the trajectory of the resistance. He was widely recognized for his unwavering stance against occupation.

Kassir brothers—Ahmad, Moussa, Rabih, Mohammad, and Hassan—each made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of Lebanon, embodying a legacy of courage, commitment, and national defense.

Zeinab Nasrallah further reflected on the deep emotional and spiritual ties that bound the Kassir family to the resistance. “Because of the spirit that defined their family, my father held them in great affection—he loved Haj Hassan deeply,” she said.

Longing for martyrdom

Haj Hassan harbored a deep yearning for martyrdom throughout his life.

“After every war and every turning point in the battle against the Israeli occupation, he would feel sorrowful, wondering why it wasn’t his turn yet,” Zeinab Nasrallah told the Press TV website. His long-held wish was ultimately fulfilled in the most recent war imposed on Lebanon.

“Martyrdom was the ultimate aspiration for both my father and my husband,” she said.

“On one hand, they achieved what they longed for and are now in a better place. On the other hand, we miss them dearly. It’s not easy to live without them, but we must remain patient, act responsibly, pray for their souls, and trust that they are at peace.”

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk