ALWAGHT- Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary General, has been elected as the new leader of the Lebanese resistance movement following the martyrdom of his predecessor, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli strike on southern Beirut last month.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah's Shura Council, the central governing body of the Lebanese resistance group, appointed 60-year-old Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new Secretary-General. The council highlighted Qassem's dedication to the group's principles and expressed confidence in his leadership to carry on Hezbollah's mission. In a statement, they prayed for his success in leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance movement.
The council also reaffirmed its loyalty to the cause, pledging to honor the sacrifices of fallen fighters, support the Islamic resistance, and remain committed to the Lebanese people. They emphasized their determination to uphold Hezbollah's goals and maintain the strength of the resistance until victory is achieved.
Sheikh Qassem has long been an influential figure in Hezbollah, serving as Deputy Secretary General since 1991. Initially appointed as deputy under Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an Israeli helicopter strike in 1992, Qassem continued in this role when Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah became the leader.
A former member of the Amal Movement, Qassem left in 1979, inspired by Iran’s Islamic Revolution, which significantly shaped the outlook of young Lebanese activists. He joined the early efforts that culminated in the formation of Hezbollah in 1982. Born in Beirut’s Basta Tahta district in 1953, Qassem has also been a prominent spokesman for Hezbollah, frequently engaging with foreign media to represent the organization.
