You have commented 358 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hezbollah names deputy head Naim Qassem as successor to Nasrallah
2024-10-29
The countdown has begun.
[IsraelTimes] Hezbollah names deputy head Naim Qassem as successor to slain chief Hassan Nasrallah.

Qassem, a longtime deputy to Nasrallah, has served as the terror group’s acting leader since Israel killed Nasrallah in a strike in Beirut last month.



More from the Times of Israel at 8:50 p.m. ET:
Qassem was born in 1953 in southern Lebanon. He served as a Shiite cleric and educator until the late 1970s, when he joined the Amal terror group and political party during the Lebanese civil war.

When a number of Amal members split from the party to found Hezbollah in 1982, Qassem followed and was appointed deputy leader in 1991 under founding leader Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year.

Qassem remained in his role when Nasrallah became leader in 1992, and served as his deputy until Nasrallah’s death.

Qassem has long been one of Hezbollah’s leading spokesmen, but he is considered by many in Lebanon to lack the charisma and gravitas of Nasrallah.

Since Nasrallah’s killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on September 30, days after Nasrallah was killed, where he appeared to be sweating profusely while reading prepared remarks.

“Despite the losses of its commanders, the attacks against civilians throughout Lebanon, and great sacrifices, we will not budge from our position,” Qassem said in that speech from an undisclosed location in Beirut. “We will continue to support Gaza and to defend Lebanon.”

According to a report by UAE-based Erem News, after the deaths of Nasrallah and Safieddine, Qassem fled Lebanon on an Iranian plane in early October and is currently residing in Tehran.
Related:
Naim Qassem 10/21/2024 Report: Qassem fled Lebanon and is now living in Tehran
Naim Qassem 10/16/2024 IDF says troops nabbed 3 Hezbollah commandos hiding under building in south Lebanon, building in south Beirut airstruck
Naim Qassem 10/12/2024 Update on Esmail Qaani

Posted by:trailing wife

#3  ^ He's hiding in Iran. That doesn't mean the Mossad/IDF/IAF can't reach him.
Posted by: Frank G   2024-10-29 19:36  

#2  Anyone know the over/under on this guy?
Posted by: Mercutio   2024-10-29 18:57  

#1  Two questions:

1. Since Hezbollah leadership has been largely neutralized by Israel, who exactly is 'Hezbollah' in this context?

2. What did Qassem do to them to deserve a death sentence?
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2024-10-29 14:30  

00:00