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Hezbollah Under Attack & Iran’s “Soft Power” Play in Sudan | Media Arabic Booster 09/24
This issue examines the Arabic media’s response to the attacks on Hezbollah and the death of Hassan Nasrallah, plus a deep dive into Iran’s strategy in Sudan. Learn the vocabulary used to discuss military strikes, assassinations, and geopolitical influence.
September 2024 was a volatile month in the Middle East, and this Media Arabic Booster focuses on two major developing stories.
We’ll start in Lebanon, analyzing how Arab newspapers like al-Sharq al-Awsat covered the pager attacks on Hezbollah and the subsequent assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah (حسن نصر الله). Then, we shift to a fascinating piece from al-Arab that details how Iran is using the crisis in Sudan as a “soft power” play to expand its influence in Africa.
This issue will equip you with the precise media Arabic vocabulary to discuss targeted strikes, regional power struggles, and ideological expansion.
Media Arabic Booster: 09/24 Show
A close look at a headline
al-Sharq al-Awsat: to cause someone to bleed
Let’s focus on two headlines:
أَكْبَرُ اِخْتِراقٍ إِسْرائِيلِيٍّ يُدْمِي حِزْبَ اللّٰهِ
Lit.: The biggest Israeli breach causes Hezbollah to bleed
Possible translation: Israel’s biggest breakthrough leaves Hezbollah devastated
إِسْرائِيلُ تَتَأَهَّبُ وَتَسْتَدْعِي الْاِحْتِياطَ وَتُعَدُّ الْمَلاجِئَ
Israel prepares, calls for reserves and prepares shelters
I’m not sure how best to translate the title into English. There are several reasons for this:
- Firstly, al-Sharq al-Awsat prefers serious and rather detached, factual language in its headlines – it is anything but a tabloid/yellow press. So I don’t think a literal translation of “bleeding” is really appropriate for this newspaper, although there was a real connection because after the pager attack many people in Lebanon were injured and bleeding.
- Secondly, the word “blood” in Arabic has a lot of abstract, very deep meanings. So I would tend towards a more abstract formulation.
- But I am not a native speaker, so I do not have the necessary feel for such phrases. I would be interested to hear what others think about this (please comment at the end of the article).
BACKGROUND: The root of the Arabic word for blood (دَمٌ)
That’s an old debate. Some say د-م-ي held by some to be originally د-م-و. Others treat it as biliteral (= two root letters) since it is an ancient Semitic root.
That’s an old debate. Some say د-م-ي held by some to be originally د-م-و. Others treat it as biliteral (= two root letters) since it is a very old Semitic root.
- Let’s check the word for blood in other Semitic languages: In Accadian, we have the word dāmu. In Ugaritic-cuneiform: damu. In Hebrew, blood is דָּם (dam) and is based on the biliteral root (d-m). Basically, in almost all Semitic languages, we find the letters d-m resulting mostly in “dam“. So we have two root letters.
- Of the root د-م-ي (or: د-م-و), 2 forms occur 10 times in the Qur’an: دَمٌ (collective noun) 7 times and دِماءٌ (plural) 3 times.
- Early Arabic grammarians tried to explain the entire Arabic data set in terms of a three-root system – on which the entire pattern system of ف-ع-ل model is based. When we are dealing with an old Semitic root based on two root letters, the Arabic framework of word construction becomes tricky. With ancient two-letter Semitic roots, theoretical explanations of how a word might have originally looked were often needed to explain the Arabic words actually used. Since we have relatively little written Arabic from ancient times, this remains an abstract discussion – which it was even then, as the differing views of the great Arabic grammarians show. Arabic grammar makes all this possible because it provides a framework with an almost mathematical formal logic.
- Sibaweihi (سيبويه) said that the Arabic word for blood was originally دَمْيٌ – with سُكُونٌ – following the pattern فَعْلٌ which explains the plural forms دِماء and دُمِيٌّ.
- However, al-Jawhary (الجوهري) takes the view, quoting al-Mubarrad (المبرد), that it was originally دَمَوٌ (also: دَمَيٌ), following the pattern of فَعَلٌ. As an example of their argument, supporters of this approach give the example of the Arabic word for hand, يَدٌ, which was originally explained by يَدَيٌ.
- The dual of دَمٌ is another example which shows the complexity of the discussion: The majority of the classical grammarians said it is دَمَيانِ (or, as some say, دَمَوانِ) which would be another example where an extra letter (ي or و) suddenly comes into play. Others, however, give دَمَانِ (only two root letters).
Headlines on the death of Nasrallah
Hezbollah is supported by the Shiite regime in Iran. That’s why I wanted to see how the Sunni Arab media outlets reported the death of the Hezbollah leader.
al-Masry al-Youm
al-Sharq al-Awsat
al-Jarida
al-Akhbar
- Almost all of them used neutral language and the word اِغْتِيالٌ which means assasination; murder. It is the verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) of the VIII-verb اغْتالَ – يَغْتالُ which means to murder; to assassinate. Arabic newspapers refrained from using Islamic or indirect phrases, which are usually used when important Arab figures die.
- Interestingly, the Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm (المصري اليوم)used different approach. They showed a picture of a waving and friendly-looking Nasrallah and used the headline حسن نصر الله يغادر ضاحيته الجنوبية which translates as Hassan Nasrallah leaves his southern suburb.
For those who want to read more on the subject: In issue 08/24 of the Media Arabic Booster I wrote some background information on Nasrallah and Hezbollah.
Translation of an article
Let’s look at parts of a longer newspaper article in Arabic. We will translate each sentence carefully. The highlighted words are in the vocabulary list below.
al-Arab: How Iran tries to gain influence in Sudan
On September 24, 2024, the following article was published by the London-based and Qatari-owned daily newspaper al-Arab (العرب). The article examines Iran’s efforts to increase its influence in Sudan during the current crisis and claims that Tehran uses educational institutions to spread Shi’ism and strengthen its presence in Africa. The author, Dr. Abdel Moneim Hemmat (عبد المنعم همت), is a Sudanese writer based in the UAE.
Let’s now take a closer look at a few complete paragraphs.
Section 1
إيران، بفضل موقعها الجغرافي وتوجهاتها السياسية والعقائدية، تسعى إلى التوسع خارج حدودها، خاصة في الأوقات التي تتسم بالأزمات في المناطق المحيطة. الأزمة السودانية المستعرة منذ سنوات ليست استثناءً لهذه الطموحات. مع تزايد حالة الفوضى الداخلية في السودان، تجد طهران فرصة لتعزيز وجودها في هذا البلد الهام والاستفادة من موقعه الجغرافي لتوسيع نفوذها في أفريقيا، وهي قارة تحاول إيران على مدى عقود الوصول إلى قلبها لأسباب سياسية واقتصادية وأيديولوجية.
Thanks to its geographical location and political and ideological orientations, Iran is seeking to expand beyond its borders, especially in times of crises in neighboring regions. The ongoing Sudanese crisis for years now is no exception to these ambitions. As the internal chaos is escalating in Sudan, Tehran seized the opportunity to strengthen its presence in this important country and take advantage of its geographical location to expand its influence in Africa, a continent that Iran has been trying to reach for decades for political, economic and ideological reasons.
BACKGROUND: What is the situation in Sudan in 2024?
The current crisis and civil war in Sudan began in April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between two groups:
- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF; القوات المسلحة السودانية), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (عبد الفتاح البرهان).
- The Rapid Support Forces (RSF; قوات الدعم السريع), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti (محمد حمدان دقلو).
Before the civil war erupted in April 2023, Sudan was already experiencing significant political and social turmoil.
Post-Bashir Transition: After the ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir (عمر البشير) in April 2019, Sudan was in a transitional phase. A civilian-led transitional government was established through a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian leaders.
Military Coup: In October 2021, the transitional government was toppled by a military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (عبد الفتاح البرهان), with support from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF; قوات الدعم السريع). This coup disrupted the fragile transition to civilian rule and led to widespread protests and instability.
Economic Challenges: Sudan faced severe economic difficulties, including high inflation, food shortages, and a lack of basic services. These economic hardships fueled public discontent and protests.
Security Issues: The country was also dealing with ongoing conflicts in regions like Darfur (دارفور), South Kordofan (جنوب كردفان), and Blue Nile (النيل الأزرق), which contributed to the overall instability.
- External Influences: Various countries have taken sides in the conflict, further complicating the situation. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates reportedly support the SAF, while Qatar and Turkey are believed to support the RSF.
- Integration Disputes: There were significant disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the regular military. The SAF wanted to absorb the RSF into its ranks, but the RSF resisted, fearing a loss of autonomy and power.
- Transition to Civilian Rule: The timeline and process for transitioning to a civilian-led government were contentious. Both factions had different visions and timelines for this transition, leading to increased tensions.
- Power Struggle: The underlying power struggle between General al-Burhan and General Dagalo played a crucial role. Both leaders sought to consolidate their power and influence, leading to a direct confrontation.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) reported that the conflict in Sudan has resulted in at least 8,600 civilian deaths and more than 8.6 million displaced people1.
Section 2
من أبرز الوسائل التي تستخدمها طهران لتحقيق هذا الهدف هو التعليم، حيث تقوم بإنشاء مدارس وجامعات في عدد من الدول الأفريقية، بما فيها السودان، بهدف نشر المذهب الشيعي وتعزيز ارتباط هذه المجتمعات بإيران. هذه المؤسسات التعليمية ليست مجرد منصات أكاديمية، بل أدوات لنشر الأيديولوجيا الشيعية وتثبيت النفوذ الإيراني في المجتمعات المحلية. التعليم، إذًا، يُعتبر من أسلحة طهران الناعمة التي تستخدمها لتوسيع نفوذها في أماكن يصعب عليها التدخل فيها مباشرة بالقوة العسكرية.
One of the main (most prominent) methods that Tehran uses to achieve this goal is education through the establishment of schools and universities in several African countries, including Sudan, with the aim of spreading the Shiite doctrine and strengthening these communities’ connection to Iran. These educational institutions are not mere academic platforms, but rather tools aimed at promoting the Shiite ideology and consolidating Iranian influence in local communities. Therefore, education is considered one of Tehran’s soft weapons used to expand its influence in places where it would have been otherwise difficult to enter directly through military force.
Section 3
على الجانب السوداني، يوجد ارتباط قديم بين بعض فصائل الإخوان المسلمين في البلاد وإيران. على الرغم من أن هذه الروابط التنظيمية لا تتمتع بالقوة الكبيرة، إلا أن هناك مجموعة صغيرة من أعضاء الإخوان تحمل ولاءً قويًا لإيران وشخصية الخميني، وتتأثر بالمذهب الشيعي. هذا الارتباط الفكري ظهر للمرة الأولى بشكل واضح في جامعة القاهرة فرع الخرطوم، حيث كان يتم التعبير عن هذه الأفكار من خلال نشاطات طلابية وصحف حائطية. وعلى الرغم من أن هذا التيار ظل ضعيفًا وغير مؤثر، إلا أن المتغيرات الحالية في السودان قد تتيح له الظهور مجددًا، خاصة إذا تمكنت إيران من ترسيخ وجودها في البلاد.
On the Sudanese side, there is a long-standing connection between some factions of the Muslim Brotherhood in the country and Iran. Although these organizational links are not very strong, there is a small group of Brotherhood members who have strong loyalty to Iran and the personality of Khomeini and are influenced by Shiism. This ideological connection first appeared clearly at the Khartoum branch of Cairo University, where these ideas were expressed through student activities and wall newspapers. Although this current has remained weak and ineffective, the current changes in Sudan may allow it to re-emerge, especially if Iran is able to establish its presence in the country.
Section 4
من ناحية أخرى، تسعى إيران من خلال إشعال الأوضاع في السودان إلى تخفيف الضغوط الداخلية التي تعاني منها. فطهران تعيش أزمة اقتصادية وسياسية خانقة نتيجة العقوبات الدولية المفروضة عليها، إضافة إلى تحديات داخلية متعلقة بالاستقرار الاجتماعي. لذلك، فإن تحريك الصراع خارج حدودها عبر التوسع في السودان سيمنح نظامها بعض الوقت للتنفس داخليًا ويخفف من الضغوط المباشرة عليه. في نفس الوقت، هذا التوسع سيجعل إيران أكثر قربًا من الدول التي ترى فيها تهديدًا لمصالحها، ويمنحها القدرة على التعامل المباشر مع أيّ تهديدات محتملة لأمنها الإقليمي.
On the other hand, Iran seeks, by igniting the situation in Sudan, to alleviate the internal pressures it is suffering from. Tehran is experiencing a stifling economic and political crisis as a result of international sanctions imposed on it, in addition to internal challenges related to social stability. Therefore, moving the conflict outside its borders by expanding in Sudan will give its regime some time to breathe internally and relieve the direct pressures on it. At the same time, this expansion will bring Iran closer to the countries it sees as a threat to its interests, and give it the ability to deal directly with any potential threats to its regional security.
Section 5
إيران إذًا لا ترى في السودان مجرد فرصة جغرافية وسياسية، بل تعتبره نقطة انطلاق نحو تحقيق مكاسب إستراتيجية على المدى البعيد، سواء على مستوى التوسع في أفريقيا أو على مستوى التحكم في البحر الأحمر وتعزيز نفوذها الإقليمي.
Iran does not see in Sudan a mere geographic and political opportunity, but rather considers it a starting point towards achieving strategic gains in the long term, whether in terms of expansion in Africa or in terms of controlling the Red Sea and strengthening its regional influence.
Vocabulary list
If you are unfamiliar with the verb system used in the Hans Wehr dictionary (Roman numerals, I-X), click here for a short and simplified overview.
Part 1: Analysis of a headline
| ARABIC | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|
| اِخْتِراقٌ | penetration; breach; breakthrough. It is the verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) of the VIII-verb اخْتَرَقَ – يَخْتَرِقُ which means to break into; to penetrate; to hack. It is mostly used in a negative way, but occasionally also for positive things (e.g., a scientific breakthrough). For example: security breach, also used for hacking (اِخْتِراقٌ أَمْنِيٌّ); important breakthrough, e.g., in science (اِخْتِراقٌ مُهِمٍّ); breaking the sound barrier (اِخْتِراقُ حاجِزِ الصَّوْتِ); to ring/bark in someone’s ears (اِخْتَرَقَ مَسامِعَهُ) |
| أَدْمَى – يُدْمِي | to make bleed. It is a IV-verb of the root د-م-ي. If you want to express to bleed, you usually use the I-verb نَزَفَ – نَزَفَ and not the I-verb دَمِيَ – يَدْمَى which does also mean to bleed. For example:to bleed from the nose (نَزَفَ دَمًا مِنْ الْأَنْفِ). For example:to lose much blood, to bleed to death (نُزِفَ دَمُهُ). The verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) is نَزْفٌ and means exhaustion, draining, hemorrhage, weakening (by loss of blood). In the old times, it mainly denoted to exhaust a well and later to drain, to draw off blood. |
تَأَهَّبَ - يَتَأَهَّبُ لِ | to prepare oneself for; to get ready for. V-verb (root: ء-ه-ب). The verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) is تَأَهُّب which means preparation or readiness. For example: to raise the alert level (رَفَعَ دَرَجةَ التَّأَهُّبِ) |
| اِسْتَدْعَى – يَسْتَدْعِي | to call/alarm; also: to subpoena. X-verb (root: د-ع-و) that can take a direct object (مَفْعُولٌ بِهِ), but sometimes is also used with the preposition لِ (e.g., when expressing called up for military service). The verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) is اِسْتِدْعاءٌ which means summons (in law) or convocation, call. |
| اِحْتِياطٌ pl: اِحْتِياطاتٌ | reserve (military); precaution; caution/cautiousness, care. It is the verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) of the VIII-verb اِحْتاطَ – يَحْتاطُ لِ (root: ح-و-ط) which means to take care; to make provisions (لِ for) in order to achieve something; to take care (for = بِ; that = بِأَنَّ). For example, to take precautionary measures (اِتَّخَذَ اِحْتِياطاتٍ وِقائيّةً); as a precaution (مِنْ بابِ اِلْاحْتِياطِ or عَلَى سَبِيلِ اِلْاحْتِياطِ); preventing something (اِحْتِياطًا لِ / مِنْ) |
| أَعَدَّ – يُعِدُّ | to prepare; to make ready. IV-verb (root: ح-د-د); the verbal noun (مَصْدَرٌ) is إِعْدادٌ. For example: to be prepared for; to make preparations for (أَعَدَّ عُدَّتَهُ لِ) |
| مَلْجَأٌ pl: مَلاجِئُ | shelter; refuge; hiding place. It is the noun of place (اِسْمُ الْمَكانِ) of the I-verb لَجَأَ – يَلْجَأُ إِلَى which means to flee to; to seek refuge in; also: to refer to. For example: air-raid shelter (مَلْجَأٌ ضِدَّ غاراتٍ جَوِّيَّةٍ) |
Part 2: Article Headline
We will now conduct a detailed analysis of all the highlighted terms from the preceding article
🔒 Note on the Vocabulary List: The following section provides an exhaustive linguistic breakdown of every key term and grammatical nuance found in this article. Access to this deep analysis — featuring detailed word-for-word explanations and contextual examples similar to the table above — is available exclusively to our Arabic for Nerds+ community.
For +members: Vocab Quiz 09/24
You can practice the vocabulary presented in this article with this interactive quiz.
For +members: Download Anki files
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One more thing: If you were wondering what the Arabic writing in the feature image is, it’s just a bunch of garbage letters that somehow look Arabic, generated by the Midjourney AI, which still has some problems with letters. But since it only serves the purpose of illustration, I left the funky picture.
Footnotes
- Source: https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/sudan/sudan-humanitarian-update-24-june-2024 ↩︎
Wanna cite this article?
Drißner, G. (2024, September 30). Hezbollah Under Attack & Iran’s “Soft Power” Play in Sudan | Media Arabic Booster 09/24. Arabic for Nerds. https://arabic-for-nerds.com/learners-corner/media-arabic-booster/media-arabic-booster-09-24/
Published: September 30, 2024
Please check the citation before use, especially if your style guide has local requirements.
Publication ISSN: 3055-1730
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