WHO IS SHEIKH NAIM QASSEM, HEZBOLLAH’S NEW LEADER?

WHO IS SHEIKH NAIM QASSEM, HEZBOLLAH’S NEW LEADER?

Sheikh Naim Qassem has assumed charge of Hezbollah. Qassem is a founding member and long-time number two of Nasrallah and is appreciated for his hardline and pro-Iranian stances. His leadership comes at a crucial juncture as the regional crisis deepens.

Nasrallah’s Death and Qassem’s Ascension

• After the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah's leaders, which killed Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, his long-time adjutant, took over as the acting head of the organization. 

• The period of Qassem’s leadership marks an important evolution for Hezbollah during heightened regional tensions and internal challenges.

A Founding Member and Public Figure

• Qassem, who is among the founding fathers of the terrorist group Hezbollah, has spent considerable time in the organization, most of it in the shadows of Nasrallah.

• He is seen constantly in his signature white turban and gray beard, Besides, he has been all out there, even when Nasrallah curtailed appearances due to security concerns. Qassem was routinized in going for the occasions and the interviews, making the image of Hezbollah remain active on the regional level

Qassem’s Ideology and Public Perception

• Qassem is known for making more radical pronouncements in public. This time, he did not hesitate to make even more overtly vicious anti-Israel jibes than his predecessor.

• However, despite his prominent stature, Qassem is viewed as less charismatic than Nasrallah since he does not have the same oratorical prowess but has fared quite well in garnering support.

The Early Life and Career of Sheikh Naim Qassem

• Qassem's birthplace is Kfar Kila in Lebanon. He studied chemistry at first but later engaged in religion and politics.

• In the late 1970s, he became a member of Imam Moussa Sadr’s Organisation of the Dispossessed, which later transformed into the Amal Movement, representing the Shia community of Lebanon.

The Rise of Hezbollah and Qassem’s Role

• Qassem became a member of Hezbollah since its inception due to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, with help from the IRGC of Iran.

• In 1991, he became Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general while leading Abbas al-Mousawi and carried on in the same capacity under Nasrallah following the assassination of Mousawi in 1992.

Internal Dynamics and Future Prospects

• Although he is now the acting leader, Qassem has had less power historically than people such as Hashem Safieddine, who was responsible for managing much of Hezbollah's political affairs.

• Safieddine, Nasrallah's cousin and highly regarded political figure, was once viewed as the next in line; however, his current lack of engagement raises questions about Qassem's role in the near future with the continuing Israeli assaults.