Qassem had described the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel as a test of resilience, stating Hezbollah “would not cry first” despite sustaining “painful blows” from Israel. While reaffirming the group’s operational strength, he expressed support for efforts by parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, to secure a ceasefire—omitting, for the first time, a prior insistence on a Gaza truce as a prerequisite for halting Hezbollah’s fire on Israel.
Israel had earlier killed Hashem Safieddine, who was widely expected to become the successor of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
In a previous speech on September 30, Qassem pledged to appoint a successor “at the earliest opportunity” and emphasized Hezbollah’s commitment to fighting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. “What we are doing is the bare minimum… we know that the battle may be long,” he said during a 19-minute address.
All about Naim Kassem
Born in 1953 in Beirut to a family from southern Lebanon, Qassem’s political journey began with the Shi’ite Amal Movement, which he left in 1979 after Iran’s Islamic Revolution inspired a new generation of Shi’ite activists. He was instrumental in the formation of Hezbollah, established in response to Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon with support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. As Hezbollah’s general coordinator for parliamentary elections since 1992, Qassem also authored a 2005 history of the group, offering a rare insider’s perspective.
Qassem was originally appointed deputy chief by then-secretary general Abbas al-Musawi in 1991, who was killed in an Israeli helicopter attack the following year. Qassem remained in his role under Nasrallah’s leadership, establishing himself as a key spokesperson, particularly during recent cross-border hostilities with Israel.Notably, Qassem’s white turban distinguishes him from Nasrallah and Safieddine, whose black turbans signify their lineage as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.