Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem during his speech on Sept. 30, 2024. (Screenshot from Al-Manar)
For the first time in 32 years, Hassan Nasrallah is no longer the face of Hezbollah. After the assassination of the party's secretary-general on Friday, his deputy, Naim Qassem, has attempted to address the numerous questions about the future of the organization and its ongoing war with Israel. In an unscripted speech with a particularly stoic demeanor, though revealing a certain unease, the dignitary delivered a message as clear as possible, aimed both at the party's base (orphaned and anxious) and at the jubilant Israelis: "We continue in the footsteps of Hassan Nasrallah."
The interim leader of the party stated that Israel sought to strike at Hezbollah's internal structure, but the organization has a solid foundation that allows it to continue operating normally despite "the pain."
"There is a deputy and an alternative for every leader," he assured, confirming that he took the reins after Friday's strike, following three days of uncertainty regarding the potential vacuum at the party's top level, especially due to the series of Israeli assassinations targeting leaders of all ranks. He also emphasized that the election of a new secretary-general would happen "easily and as soon as possible" and that there was some "clarity" about the proposed candidates. In other words, it will likely be Hashem Safieddine, the head of the party's Executive Council, who will succeed Nasrallah. At the same time, he dismissed rumors suggesting it would be difficult for the Shura Council (the party's consultative council) to meet under these circumstances to elect a new leader, particularly given that the new leader would automatically become a target for Israel.
The "minimum"
In his speech, the dignitary also stated that contrary to the Israeli version, Nasrallah was not killed during a meeting with 20 leaders of the "Axis of Resistance" but rather alongside his close guard. This was an attempt to reassure the popular base and guarantee that Hezbollah did not commit such a strategic blunder. On this point, he acknowledged that Israel was also trying to turn the party's popular base against it by targeting homes and civilian infrastructure. "Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly said that you were his heart and mind... you are his beloved," he said, seeking to revive the affection that Hezbollah's popular base feels for their leader.
Regarding the war, Qassem acknowledged that it "could be long," but emphasized that despite this, Hezbollah's position "will not budge an inch" on the connection between the front in Lebanon and that in Gaza. Israel is maximizing pressure on Lebanon and the party to force it to accept a cease-fire and allow displaced Israelis to return to villages and towns in the North, regardless of a halt in hostilities in the Palestinian enclave. "After the assassination of Nasrallah, Hezbollah's operations have continued in the same manner, if not more than before," the dignitary asserted. Israel stated on Sunday that a million people had sought refuge in shelters due to a single missile.
Despite the assassination of its powerful leader, Hezbollah continues to exercise restraint in South Lebanon, refraining from tapping into its most sophisticated arsenal. While Qassem acknowledged that his organization is doing "only the minimum" in the conflict (as Israel crosses one red line after another), he claimed this is dictated by "ground-related considerations," while hinting at the threat of increasing strikes, which would lead to the displacement of a greater number of Israelis.
"Some say that Israel has succeeded in destroying our military capabilities and missiles... this is not true. It is a dream for them," he insisted, adding that command does not rely on a single person but on a clear strategy implemented by Nasrallah himself. "We are ready and prepared if Israel wants to launch a ground incursion," he also stated, at a time when Israel threatens to carry out such an offensive at any moment. Qassem added, "We will win, as we did during the liberation (in 2000) and the 2006 war," two "victories" closely associated with Nasrallah's leadership.
