Beirut [Lebanon], October 30 (HBTV): Hezbollah appointed Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as its new leader on Tuesday, nearly a month after his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, dealing a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group, CNN reported.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant reacted to the announcement on social media platform X, stating it was only a "temporary appointment. Not for long."

The group’s Senior Council elected Qassem, emphasizing his commitment to "Mohammed's authentic Islam" and the organization’s core principles. Qassem previously served as Nasrallah's deputy and is one of the few leaders to survive the recent Israeli attacks, which targeted many key figures within Hezbollah, CNN reported.

Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director for research at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre, noted that Qassem's appointment was expected as "the organization was left with few choices among top-tier clerics." He described Qassem as "a known face," making his appointment a "no-brainer" for the organization. Hashem Safieddine was also seen as a strong candidate but was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut.

Born in 1953 in Kfar Kila, Qassem helped found Hezbollah in 1982 and has served as deputy secretary-general since 1991, overseeing the group’s parliamentary efforts. Before joining Hezbollah, he was involved in the political group "Harakat al-Mahrumin," which later became part of the Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah, CNN reported.

Although Qassem has been a prominent figure within Hezbollah, his connection with the average Lebanese may not be as strong as Nasrallah's, who came from a more impoverished background, Ali noted. Qassem represents a "lower middle class," while Nasrallah resonated more with the poorer classes, he added.   

(ANI)