Lebanon‘s Hezbollah militant group on Tuesday announced that it has elected Sheikh Naim Qassem, a long-time leader within the Iran-backed Lebanese group, as its new head. The decision to elect Naim Qassem, previously serving as deputy leader, as the group’s head comes following secretary general Hassan Nasrallah‘s death in an Israeli attack in southern Beirut a few weeks ago.
Qassem, who has been part of Hezbollah’s senior leadership for over 30 years, gave a televised address on October 8 from an undisclosed location. In his speech, he described the conflict with Israel as a “war about who cries first” and affirmed that Hezbollah would not be the first to cry. He noted that, despite suffering “painful blows” from Israel, Hezbollah’s capabilities remain intact.
For the first time, Qassem expressed support for efforts by Hezbollah ally and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri to broker a ceasefire, omitting a previous condition that a Gaza truce must precede halting Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel.
The 30-minute broadcast came soon after a reported Israeli strike that allegedly targeted senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine, and 11 days after the death of Hezbollah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli attack. Hezbollah confirmed Safieddine’s death on October 23.
Who is Naim Qassem?
- Born in Beirut in 1953 to a family from the border village of
Kfar Fila , Sheikh Naim Qassem began his political journey with the Lebanese Shi’ite Amal Movement, a Hezbollah ally.
- He left Amal in 1979 after the Islamic revolution in Iran which was a precursor to the formation of Hezbollah three years later.
- Qassem was appointed deputy chief of Hezbollah in 1991 by Abbas al-Musawi, the then-leader of Hezbollah who was killed the following year in an Israeli helicopter strike. Qassem continued in this position after Nasrallah became leader, serving as one of Hezbollah’s primary spokespersons, especially during recent escalations with Israel.
- Since 1992, he has coordinated Hezbollah’s parliamentary election campaigns
- He is also the author of a 2005 book providing an inside look into the group.
- He was the most senior Hezbollah official to make public appearances after Nasrallah largely went into hiding following the group’s 2006 war with Israel.
- Qassem wears a white turban unlike Nasrallah and Safieddine, whose black turbans denoted their status as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.