Hezbollah’s newly-elected Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has pledged to continue the path of his predecessor, who was assassinated by Israel just over a month ago.
In his first speech as Hezbollah’s leader on Wednesday, Qassem declared that the Lebanese resistance group would persist in its conflict with Israel, following the same strategic framework set by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Qassem was elected as Hezbollah’s chief on Tuesday, succeeding Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s Dahieh suburb on September 27.
U.S. media reported that Israel used American-made 900 kg (2,000-pound) bombs in the strike that killed Nasrallah and destroyed residential buildings in Dahieh. Hezbollah also confirmed last week that Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of the movement’s Executive Council, was also killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in early October.
“My agenda is Nasrallah’s agenda in all aspects,” Qassem stated, adding, “We will continue with our war plan.” He emphasized that Hezbollah’s resources are prepared for a prolonged conflict, vowing “absolute defeat” for Israel.
Qassem spoke emotionally about Nasrallah, describing him as a brother, and highlighted Safieddine’s importance as a trusted confidant. He also criticized the West’s support of Israel, describing the movement as facing an “American, European, and global effort to end our resistance.”
Support for Gaza
Qassem also condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, affirming Hezbollah’s support for the Palestinian people in the besieged region and its commitment to countering the threat Israel poses to the entire region.
Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel escalated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, in response to Hamas’ surprise military operation, Al-Aqsa Storm, in southern Israel. Hezbollah has since carried out attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Amid the ongoing exchanges, tens of thousands have been displaced in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
Since October last year, Israel has launched bombing campaigns and a ground invasion in Lebanon’s south, resulting in the deaths of around 2,800 people and injuries to more than 12,700 others.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
