Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader After Hassan Nasrallah's Death; Israel Warns Tenure May Be Short
- DailyBuzzReports
- Oct 29, 2024
- 2 min read
Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that Naim Qassem has been appointed as the new leader, succeeding Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September. Qassem has been Nasrallah’s second-in-command for many years and has recently served as a prominent spokesperson for the group as tensions with Israel escalated.
Nasrallah was killed on September 27, and his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine, was also killed shortly after in another Israeli strike. In response to Qassem's appointment, the Israeli government swiftly issued threats, suggesting that his leadership might be short-lived if he follows the paths of his predecessors. They emphasized that dismantling Hezbollah as a military force is essential for stability in Lebanon.
Qassem's rise comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with both nations recently engaging in direct attacks. Hezbollah has historically acted as an Iranian proxy, and the group has faced numerous Israeli airstrikes over the past several months. This ongoing conflict has led to increased hostilities in the region.
In a notable escalation, Israeli air force jets launched strikes on 20 targets across Iran in an operation named "Days of Repentance." The operation focused on Iran’s air defense systems and involved targeted strikes on missile and drone bases, as well as weapons production sites, utilizing over 100 aircraft.
Iran has vowed to respond to these Israeli actions, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei declaring that the country would use "all available tools" to retaliate against Israel. In light of these developments, President Biden has expressed hope that the situation may be coming to an end after meeting with intelligence officials regarding the ongoing conflict.
Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader After Hassan Nasrallah's Death; Israel Warns Tenure May Be Short
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