Hamas has hailed Naim Kassem’s appointment as Hezbollah’s new chief as proof of the group’s restoration.
In actuality, although, it is a reflection of their lack of choices. Kassem is just about the one senior determine left.
Having helped set up Hezbollah within the early Nineteen Eighties, the 71-year-old rose to the function of deputy chief in 1991, turning into one of many group’s most necessary clerics, who guided its non secular and ideological course.
However he was all the time seen because the perennial ‘quantity two’. An efficient operator in a supportive function, however not the inspirational figurehead to guide the struggle in opposition to Israel.
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Hezbollah names new chief
He is seen by many in Lebanon as missing charisma and character. He isn’t the daddy determine his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, was to some. Nor the inspirational orator.
However now Kassem has been thrust into the highest job by power of circumstance.
Who was Hassan Nasrallah?
After Nasrallah’s assassination in Beirut on the finish of September, Hashem Safieddine was thought of the probably successor, regardless of Kassem’s superiority on paper.
However he too was killed by an Israeli airstrike solely two weeks later, because the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) sought to decapitate Hezbollah’s management.
Picture:
Safieddine on the funeral of a senior Hezbollah area commander in Beirut in June. Pic: Reuters
The hit on Safieddine got here after hypothesis unfold that he was subsequent in line.
It appears Hezbollah have been extra cautious this time round with Kassem.
He is believed to have fled Beirut for Tehran earlier this month, reportedly leaving Lebanon onboard the Iranian overseas minister’s aircraft after he visited the nation.
Picture:
Individuals in a Beirut cafe watching a latest TV deal with by Naim Kassem. Pic: Reuters
Within the final month, Kassem has given three televised addresses. One was a defiant rallying cry within the wake of Nasrallah’s dying – pledging to Hezbollah supporters that they’d proceed to struggle.
The second, nonetheless, on 8 October was extra conciliatory. He stated the armed group supported efforts to succeed in a ceasefire in Lebanon. And maybe that hints at one thing – that within the palms of Kassem, Iran’s highly effective proxy might undertake a extra cautious method.
Some imagine that could be the case, just because Kassem would not have the swagger to hold a extra pugnacious coverage.
What’s extra, Kassem is already a well known face.
Because the begin of this battle with Israel final October, he is been certainly one of Hezbollah’s main spokesmen, giving interviews to each regional and overseas media.
He isn’t a army commander who operates within the shadows like these Israel has been concentrating on. Fairly the other – he is been entrance and centre, and that might show an necessary distinction.
For now, although, Israel stays cautious, warning that if Kassem follows within the footsteps of Nasrallah, his tenure can be “the shortest in [Hezbollah’s] history”.
