Hezbollah names Naim Qassem new chief

Following the death of long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has selected Naim Qassem as its new head. Qassem, who has served as the vice secretary-general since 1991, was chosen in an agreement by Hezbollah’s Shura Council per AFP. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Qassem’s role as a ‘temporary appointment.’ Currently, Hezbollah is involved in intense conflicts with Israeli forces in Lebanon, where it is deemed the strongest military entity. The group is active on multiple fronts providing military, political, and social services. While designated as a terrorist organization by the US, the EU only attributes this label to Hezbollah’s military wing. They maintain strong connections with Iran.