Hizbullah official Abdullah Kassir said on a February 15, 2023 show on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) that his motivation for getting married and having children was to “produce soldiers” for the Imam Mahdi, who is the messianic figure in Shi’ite belief. He explained that Sheikh Ragheb Harb, who was a senior Hizbullah commander in the early 1980s, used to say this as well, and the show’s host responded: “This is the main strategic goal.” Kassir also said: “Today, all the young people who wish to get married should take this advice.” Abdullah Kassir has previously served as the chairman of Al-Manar TV’s board, and he served one term as a Hizbullah MP. He currently serves as an assistant to Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hizbullah’ Executive Council.