Who is Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s number two and successor of Hassan Nasrallah

Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, was elected as the new chief of the Iran-backed terrorist organisation on Tuesday.

Qaseem, who is often referred to as “Hezbollah’s number 2”, will succeed former chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on September 27.

Speaking from an undisclosed location on October 8, Qaseem emphasised that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is a battle on who cries first, saying that the Iran-backed group will not be the one to cry first.

His televised address came out just days after senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine was believed to be the target of an Israeli attack. On October 23, Safieddine’s assassination was confirmed by Hezbollah.

In its report on October 21, the UAE-based Erem News website said that Qassem left Beirut on October 5 in an aircraft used by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for a state visit to Lebanon and Syria.

His transfer was ordered by top leaders of Iran due to fear of assassination by Israel, the report said, citing a source.

WHO IS NAIM QASSEM?

Hezbollah.org describes Qaseem as one of the group’s earliest members, instrumental since its formation, and a prominent ideologue within its ranks. His involvement in a network of influential Shia scholars, including figures like Abbas al-Moussaoui, Subhi al-Tufaili, Mohammad Yazbek, Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, and former chief Hassan Nasrallah, shaped his trajectory within the Lebanese organisation.

Qaseem holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Lebanese University, completed in the 1970s. Simultaneously, he also studied religious and theological subjects under Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, an influential Islamic scholar. By 1974, he became head of the Association for Islamic Religious Education, a role he held until 1988. He also co-founded the Lebanese Union of Muslim Students.

In 1991, Qaseem was elected Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General, stepping into the role after the assassination of Abbas al-Moussaoui. He also assumed a prominent position on Hezbollah’s Shura Council, the organization’s executive body, where he oversees governmental and paramilitary operations. His involvement in these dual spheres underscores his influence within Hezbollah’s political and operational arms.

The 71-year-old Naim Qassem has often been called as Hezbollah’s “number two”.

Aside from his leadership role, Qaseem is known for his writings. Fluent in French, he authored “Hizbullah: The Story from Within,” which details Hezbollah’s foundation and ideology. The book has been translated into six languages, including Arabic, English, and Farsi, reflecting its international reach.