As the new leader, Naim Qassem faces the daunting task of navigating Hezbollah's complex relationships with regional powers, including Iran and Syria.
New York: Lebanese armed group Hezbollah announced it had elected deputy head Naim Qassem to succeed former Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburb over a month ago. The group said in a written statement that its Shura Council had elected Qassem, 71, in accordance with its established mechanism for choosing a secretary general.
He was appointed as Hezbollah's deputy chief in 1991 by the armed group's then-secretary general Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year. Qassem has long been one of Hezbollah's leading spokesmen, conducting interviews with foreign media, including as cross-border hostilities with Israel raged over the last year.
Hezbollah has vowed to continue implementing Nasrallah's policies, aiming for "victory" despite the significant loss. This move ensures continuity in the group's leadership and strategy, particularly amidst escalating tensions with Israel. The Israeli airstrike that killed Nasrallah on September 27, 2024, was part of a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The strike targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut, resulting in significant damage and casualties.
Israel says military goals against Hezbollah achievedThe Israeli military said on October 29 that its objective against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has been, for the large part, achieved. According to a report in the Jerusalem Post, Israeli troops have said that this paves the way for the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict in northern Israel. The report further said that the Northern Command of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has stated that most of Hezbollah’s infrastructure near the Lebanon-Israel border has been destroyed. Their weaponry has mostly either been confiscated by Israeli forces or neutralized in the field. However, the IDF noted that some operations in Lebanese villages remain incomplete. |
