Hezbollah announces new leader after Nasrallah is killed

Hezbollah has named Sheikh Naim Qassem as its next leader, although Israel, suggesting it will target him, has already threatened that his time in the role would be “temporary.”

“Temporary appointment. Not for long,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X next to a photo of Qassem.

The 71-year-old Qassem succeeds his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month. Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, is based in Lebanon.

Qassem, one of Hezbollah’s founders, served as Nasrallah’s deputy leader for more than 30 years and most recently served as acting leader of the Iran-backed group.

In a statement, Hezbollah said Qassam had been elected secretary general by the Shura Council and vowed to continue Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved,” as reported by The Associated Press.

Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, 2023. Both groups are proxies of Iran.

Israel stepped up its airstrikes against Hezbollah in September, killing Nasrallah and most of the militant group’s senior leaders. Shortly afterwards, Hashem Safieddine, believed to be Nasrallah’s most likely successor, was killed in further Israeli attacks.

And earlier this month, Israel launched a limited ground incursion into Lebanon.

Before being named Hezbollah’s new leader, Qassem made several televised speeches in which he pledged that his group will continue to fight despite its hamstrung command structure.

Israel’s official Arabic account on

“There is no solution in Lebanon other than dismantling this organization as a military force,” the statement said.

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