Media: New Hezbollah secretary-general promises victory over Israel

Lebanese Hezbollah's new Secretary-General Naim Qassem has assured his supporters that they will achieve victory over Israel, even if it requires sacrifices.

He made these remarks in his first address since taking office, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

"We face many sacrifices ahead, but we are confident that victory will be our ally," he noted. He also promised to continue the path set by the late leader of the organisation, Hassan Nasrallah.

Qassem emphasised that Hezbollah will not cease its support for the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.

He stated that Israel had intended to attack Lebanon even before the escalation of hostilities launched in October 2023.

Qassem has a long history in Shia political activism and has served as deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah since 1991, during the tenure of then-secretary-general Abbas al-Musawi, who was also assassinated by Israel.  

 “He was hoping to become Hezbollah’s secretary-general when Musawi was killed in 1992,” said Nicholas Blanford, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Middle East programme.

“The Shura Council elected Nasrallah, who was Musawi’s prodigy.”   Qassem hails from Kfar Kila, a village in the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon, which has experienced numerous Israeli attacks, particularly since last October.

One of Qassem's influential religious mentors was the highly esteemed Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. Moreover, Qassem has been teaching religious classes in Beirut for many years.

By Naila Huseynova