Hezbollah announced Naim Qassem as its new secretary-general on Tuesday. Qassem, previously the group’s deputy leader, steps in following the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah was killed in late September during an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. His death comes amid an increase in targeted Israeli attacks on senior Hezbollah figures since last month.
Hezbollah released a statement following Qassem’s appointment, praising his loyalty to the group’s principles and goals. The organization added, “We ask God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission of leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance.”
Nasrallah’s killing leaves a gap in Hezbollah’s leadership. His image and influence were central to the Lebanese Shia group, both domestically and in the broader region. His loss follows the death of many Hezbollah leaders in recent months, victims of Israel’s intensified focus on eliminating the group’s top commanders.
Initially, many saw Nasrallah’s cousin, Hashem Safieddine, as the leading candidate to assume the top position. However, he too was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut shortly after Nasrallah’s death, further destabilizing Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Qassem, 71, has a deep history with Hezbollah. Known as the group’s “number two,” he is among its founding members and has been active in Shia political activism since the early 1980s. Throughout his career, Qassem maintained a public profile even after Nasrallah went underground following Hezbollah’s 2006 war with Israel.
Since taking the helm, Qassem has appeared in three televised addresses, delivering formal Arabic speeches. This style contrasts with Nasrallah’s preferred colloquial Lebanese, but it underscores Qassem’s shift in leadership tone. The new secretary-general’s formal address may reflect a bid to solidify authority amid the group’s internal shifts.
Hezbollah’s future under Qassem’s leadership is uncertain. The group has already suffered significant setbacks with the recent assassinations. As Hezbollah faces challenges from both internal restructuring and external pressure from Israeli forces, Qassem’s approach will likely determine its trajectory in the coming months.
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