Lebanon’s Hezbollah motion has introduced it has chosen deputy head Naim Qassem in an Israeli strike in south Beirut final month.
“Hezbollah’s Shura Council agreed to elect … Sheikh Naim Qassem as secretary basic of Hezbollah,” the Iran-backed group mentioned in a press release greater than a month after Nasrallah’s killing.
Qassem was elected by the five-member Shura Council, the group’s most important decision-making physique, two days earlier than Tuesday’s announcement, a supply near Hezbollah mentioned.
The supply, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of he isn’t authorised to speak to the press, mentioned a brand new Shura Council can be elected after the tip of the warfare.
The supply mentioned the council might then decide to elect a brand new chief or preserve Qassem within the prime put up.
Qassem had lengthy operated within the shadows of within the Center East.
, was initially tipped to succeed Nasrallah. However he, too, was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs shortly after Nasrallah’s assassination.
Who’s Naim Qassem?
Qassem, 71, was one in every of Hezbollah’s founders in 1982 and had been the celebration’s deputy secretary basic since 1991, the 12 months earlier than Nasrallah took the helm.
He was born in Beirut in 1953 to a household from the village of Kfar Fila on the border with Israel.
He was essentially the most senior Hezbollah official to proceed making public appearances after Nasrallah largely went into hiding following the group’s 2006 warfare with Israel.
Since Nasrallah’s demise on 27 September, Qassem has made three televised addresses.
Naim Qassem was one in every of Hezbollah’s founders in 1982 and has been the celebration’s deputy secretary basic since 1991. Supply: EPA, AAP / Wael Hamzeh
Qassem mentioned Hezbollah’s army capabilities had been intact and backed efforts by parliament speaker Nabih Berri to dealer a ceasefire.
In his final speech on 15 October, Qassem mentioned a ceasefire was the one method Israel may assure the return of its residents to the north.
The Israel-Hezbollah warfare erupted final month after almost a 12 months of cross-border fireplace.
On 23 September, Israel ramped up strikes on Hezbollah strongholds and despatched in floor forces whereas killing one member of the group’s prime management after one other.
Since then, the warfare has killed greater than 1,700 individuals in Lebanon, in keeping with an AFP tally of well being ministry figures, although the precise quantity is more likely to be greater as a result of gaps within the knowledge.
The Israeli army says it has misplaced 37 troopers in its Lebanon marketing campaign because it launched floor operations on 30 September.
