Naim Qassem becomes Hezbollah's new leader

Hezbollah has announced that Naim Qassem, the deputy to Hassan Nasrallah, has been appointed as the leader of the organization. Following Nasrallah's killing by the Israeli military in Beirut in September, discussions had begun regarding who would take charge of the group. Hashem Safieddine, whose name had been mentioned as Nasrallah's successor, was expected to become the new leader of Hezbollah. However, Safieddine was also killed in an Israeli strike.

"WE WILL NOT LAY DOWN OUR ARMS"

Qassem had delivered a televised speech on October 8, following the killing of Nasrallah.

Stating that "the US is a major partner in all the crimes committed in Gaza," Qassem had said the following:

"Our capabilities are intact; the claim that Israel has destroyed our capabilities is a fantasy. The positions of all those we lost in the attacks have been filled. No one should think that we will abandon our positions or lay down our arms."

News Source: 12punto