Hezbollah has appointed Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as its new leader following the death of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike. Qassem, a prominent figure in the organization, now heads a group that has historically been considered Iran's primary proxy in its conflict with Israel.
In recent weeks, Hezbollah has faced significant losses due to Israeli strikes, resulting in the deaths of top leaders, injuries to thousands of fighters, and a decrease in missile capabilities. The group is currently under intense military pressure from Israel in southern Lebanon.
Born in 1953 in the village of Kfar Kila, Qassem has been a key member of Hezbollah since its founding in 1982. Over the years, he has held the position of deputy secretary-general for seven consecutive terms, overseeing the group's parliamentary activities.
As the former deputy to Nasrallah, Qassem is one of the few senior leaders of Hezbollah to have survived the recent Israeli attacks on the organization, which resulted in the assassination of several key figures.
According to Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director for research at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Qassem's appointment as leader was a logical choice for Hezbollah given his long-standing role within the organization and his familiarity as a well-known figure.
