Hezbollah Appoints Sheikh Qassem Amid Leadership Strife

Sheikh Naim Qassem has been appointed as the new leader of Hezbollah following the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike. Qassem, a founding member of Hezbollah and deputy leader since 1991, was elected by the Shura Council as a temporary leader amid ongoing hostilities with Israel. The leadership change comes after the killing of Hashem Safieddine, who was initially expected to succeed Nasrallah. Israel, through Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, has warned that Qassem's tenure might be short-lived, indicating potential future military actions against him. Despite being perceived as less charismatic than his predecessors, Qassem has been a prominent public figure for Hezbollah and is expected to maintain its stance against Israel with backing from Iran. His appointment signals continuity in leadership and strategy for the Iran-backed group.