In July 2006 Israel launched a military campaign against Lebanon in response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.  Nawal Sarraf had been visiting his uncle near the border with Israel when the village was destroyed.  Israeli troops surged through the remains, sweeping any survivors further into Lebanon and killing or capturing anyone suspected of being in league with Hezbollah.  Nawal pulled himself out of the debris, surrounded by dead family.

He should have died as well: the missile landed in the house across the road.

The Israelis found him dazed and arrested him, but as he felt the rough hands on his back he struck out.  His fists were like rockslides: fast, heavy and deadly.  The soldiers were cut down.  Their bullets bounced off the young man, and someone called for emergency back-up.

Nawal had grown up with Hezbollah and knew their manifesto almost as well as he knew the Holy Koran.  His mother's uncle was an official in Hezbollah and his father worked in one of Hezbollah's funded hospitals north of Beirut.  To Nawal, the Hezbollah were the only ones who did anything for the Lebanese.

He staggered to the road and his mind began to clear, although there was still a shrill ringing in his ears (something which would never fully leave him).

The reinforcements arrived in the form of the Cabala.  Solomon 9 and Golem moved to intercept but their appearance triggered a rage in Nawal.  He had known of the Israeli superheroes and when news of the invasion spread, it was the appearance of people like Solomon 9 with the armies, that instilled fear in the Lebanese.  The fight was fierce but brief, and Nawal was beaten and arrested.

He spent nearly a month in prison but towards the end of the July War, as international condemnation rose against Israel, the terrorist group Fatwa made their move, slipping into Israel and causing widespread mayhem and destruction.  They pushed forward towards Tel Aviv but were turned back by Cabala and the Israeli Army, although they were successful in freeing a large number of Hezbollah prisoners.  The break-out spread to the streets of Tel Aviv and its citizens were temporarily forced to hide in their homes as the streets became a warzone.

Cabala quickly returned Tel Aviv to a peaceful city, but by that time Fatwa and the young Nawal had escaped.    Imam took Nawal to Saudi Arabia where he was healed and indoctrinated in the methods of Fatwa.  Nawal took on the name Al-Sumut, which meant The Way; and learned the applications of his super-strength and durability under the tutelage of Saladin.  He spent some time with Fatwa, but returned to Lebanon in 2007 where he quickly became one of Hezbollah's most important 'weapons'.  He sees his role as pushing the borders with Israel and eventually assisting with that country's destruction.

Al Sumut has been regarded as a great hero by Fatwa and Hezbollah, as well as many Lebanese people; and it is this hero-worship which has driven much of the moderate views from his head.  Even his parents feel he has become a fanatic.  He maintains his secret identity, working in Beirut in a Hezbollah hospital, but he considers such a life as a necessary distraction.  He only feels truly alive when he is working for Hezbollah or fighting against the Jewish State.

Nawal was only seventeen when his powers were triggered, and although he had already seen devastation and deprivation caused, in his eyes, by Israel; it wasn't until he was taken under the supervision of Fatwa that his anger was unearthed and directed at Israel.  Like many young Lebanese men, Nawal felt frustrated by the past and strangled by the present.  He blamed Israel.  Hezbollah was Lebanon's only friend.  He saw Hezbollah opening hospitals and education centres, operating food banks and giving out money to poor families.  After the July War he could only see Hezbollah as his family.  Everyone else had given up on Lebanon, even his mother and possibly even his father.

Nawal has cast aside his blood family for this surrogate one.  He has assumed the mantle of Al Sumut and wants to show 'the way' to young Lebanese men.  Hezbollah cannot believe their luck in having such a strong and determined uberhuman in their ranks, but they also know Al Sumut is no match for the Cabala.  They use him covertly or in lightning strikes along the border.  Nawal feels truly blessed as the 'Weapon of Hezbollah'.

"Go ahead, Israelite.  Hit me with everything you have."

Al Sumut is able to absorb kinetic energy to a limited degree.  This ability has granted him uberhuman strength which allows him to bench press in excess of 25 tons; as well as resistance to most forms of conventional weaponry.  He has shown the ability to absorb the impact of bullets and shrapnel and to translate this into healing his own wounds.  His mind is also resistant to assault.  Solomon 9 has often remarked that Al Sumut's mind is 'closed' to him.

Al Sumut is a tall young man with olive skin and spiky black hair.  His body ripples with strength and weighs in excess of 230kg due to his uberhuman physique.  When working for Hezbollah or Fatwa, he wears a grey body armour with heavy black boots and straps lining his chest and waist.  He also wears a dark red vambrace on his left arm as a tribute to Hezbollah and his calling.  When activating his enhanced strength, Al Sumut's eyes glow a menacing yellow.

Out of costume, Nawal wears regular clothing and appears to be an attractive Lebanese man in his early twenties.