BEIRUT, Lebanon. The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah announced on Tuesday the appointment of Naim Qassem as its new leader, replacing Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month. However, Israel quickly responded with an implied threat, suggesting Qassem’s leadership would be “temporary.”
“Temporary appointment. Not for long,” Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X, along with a photo of Qassem.
Hezbollah confirmed Qassem’s appointment through a written statement, noting that the 71-year-old leader was elected by the Shura Council following the group’s standard procedure for selecting a secretary general. Qassem, who was named Hezbollah’s deputy chief in 1991 by then-secretary General Abbas al-Musawi, has been a significant figure within Hezbollah since then. Musawi, like Nasrallah, was also killed by Israeli forces—falling to a helicopter strike in 1992.
Qassem, a prominent spokesman for the group, has frequently conducted interviews with international media and represented Hezbollah in times of heightened tension with Israel. Following Nasrallah’s assassination in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs on September 27, Qassem delivered three televised addresses, including one on October 8, where he expressed Hezbollah’s support for ceasefire initiatives for Lebanon.
The Israeli government, on its official Arabic account on X, issued a warning that Qassem’s tenure could be “the shortest in the history of this terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.” The post continued, “There is no solution in Lebanon except to dismantle this organization as a military force.”
Qassem’s appointment arrives amidst concerns from Lebanese citizens who question his ability to match Nasrallah’s influence and leadership, given his comparatively reserved public presence. As Hezbollah transitions leadership under Israeli pressure, Qassem’s next moves will likely be closely watched both domestically and abroad.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
