NEW NASRALLAH: 40 years with Sayyed Nasrallah.: Sheikh Naim Qassem elected as the new leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has been appointed as the new leader of the Lebanese resistance movement following the death of his predecessor, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut last month.
On Tuesday, the Shura Council of Hezbollah, the organization’s primary decision-making entity, announced the appointment of a 60-year-old cleric to its leadership position.
Hezbollah’s Shura Council has announced the election of Sheikh Naim Qassem as the new Secretary-General of the organization. The council expressed confidence in Sheikh Qassem’s leadership, emphasizing adherence to the group’s core principles and values. In a statement, the council conveyed its trust in him to carry forward the mission of Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance, seeking divine guidance for his success in this role.
The statement further affirmed a commitment to honor the fallen victims and fighters of the Islamic resistance, along with the resilient and loyal Lebanese citizens, by maintaining Hezbollah’s dedication to its principles, goals, and path. The organization vowed to continue nourishing the spirit of resistance and uphold its banner until achieving ultimate victory.
Sheikh Naim Qassem has held a longstanding position within Hezbollah, serving as the Deputy Secretary General of the Lebanese resistance organization since 1991.
He was appointed the deputy secretary general during the tenure of Hezbollah’s late leader, Abbas al-Musawi, who was assassinated in an Israeli helicopter strike in 1992. He continued to serve in this capacity following Hassan Nasrallah’s ascension to the position of secretary general.
His involvement in political activism commenced with the Lebanese Amal Movement, established in 1974. However, he parted ways with Amal in 1979, influenced by the Islamic Revolution in Iran, which significantly impacted the political ideologies of numerous young Lebanese activists.
He was involved in the deliberations that culminated in the establishment of Hezbollah in 1982.
Sheikh Naim Qassem has established himself as a prominent representative for Hezbollah, frequently engaging with international media outlets through numerous interviews.
Born in 1953 in the Basta Tahta district of Beirut, he traces his family roots to the town of Kfar Fila in the southern province of Nabatieh, Lebanon.
