Death of Hezbollah chief raises questions of what comes next

The death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is prompting speculation over the future of the militant group and what it will mean for Lebanon as well as for the broader Middle East. Attention is also turning to the man widely regarded as Nasrallah's heir apparent, Hashem Safieddine.

As Lebanon reels from news of the death of longtime Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, questions are being raised over what his death will mean for the armed group, for Lebanese politics and for tensions in the region.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who is returning from New York where he was attending the UN General Assembly, will hold an exceptional cabinet meeting Saturday evening focused on Nasrallah's death “as soon as he lands”, FRANCE 24’s Rawad Taha reported on Saturday.

The Lebanese population is sharply divided on the role Hezbollah plays in their politics, with only some 30 percent of the population professing significant "trust" in the movement and others deeply resentful, wanting a Lebanon free from sectarian conflict.

Most would agree, however, that Nasrallah was the "glue" holding the group together, with his death opening up a new, as-yet-unwritten chapter.