Hezbollah names new boss as ageing terrorist who gave chilling TV speech replaces Nasrallah

Hezbollah has named its new boss, an ageing terrorist who gave a chilling speech earlier this month vowing to fight on.

Hezbollah has named its new boss as Naim Qassem - an ageing terrorist who gave a chilling speech earlier this month vowing to fight on.

Qassem, the former deputy leader, is replacing Hassan Nasrallah - who was killed by Israel last month in massive airstrikes on Beirut.

The 71-year-old takes the reins as Hezbollah is defending against an Israeli invasion in the south of Lebanon.

Unlike Nasrallah who ruled Hezbollah for three decades, Qassem’s leadership may be short lived.

Hezbollah has named its new boss as Naim Qassem.

Qassem (right) has been a senior figure in the Iran-backed movement for more than 30 years and was the acting boss following Nasrallah’s death.

His accession to the top of Hezbollah will make him the chief target for ruthlessly efficient Israeli assassins who have already killed dozens of terror chiefs in Lebanon and Gaza.

Qassem has been a senior figure in the Iran-backed movement for more than 30 years and was the acting boss following Nasrallah’s death.

He is currently living in Tehran, having fled Lebanon on an Iranian plane with the country’s foreign minister on October 5, UAE-based Erem News outlet reports.

His transfer was ordered by top leaders of the Islamic Republic for fear of assassination by Israel, the source says.

In a statement announcing the transition, Hezbollah said: “God Almighty has spoken the truth.

“...the Hezbollah Shura agreed to elect His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem as Secretary-General of Hezbollah, carrying the blessed banner in this march, asking God Almighty.”

Qassem addressed Hezbollah on October 8 following Nasrallah’s death when the group was scrambling.

In the televised address he said Hezbollah’s leadership is still in one piece and set on defending Lebanon for as long as it takes.

He said: “The party’s leadership and the resistance [Hezbollah] are meticulously organised.

“We have overcome painful blows.

Qassem may not be safe hiding in Tehran, with Israel striking Iran itself earlier this week.

Qassem attends a commemoration ceremony at the memorial grave of slain Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh.

“We are firing hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones. A large number of settlements and cities are under the fire of the resistance.

“Our capabilities are fine and our fighters are deployed along the front lines.”

Qassem may not be safe hiding in Tehran, with Israel striking Iran itself earlier this week.

Israel’s military operation against Iran - dubbed “Days of Repentance” - was a long-anticipated response to the missile strike at the start of this month.

The IDF were also able to assassinate Hamas’ terror leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was staying in Tehran in July.

Iran’s Supreme Leader cried as he stood beside the coffin of his ally and his slain bodyguard as a crowd chants “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.

The ruthless terror group was pounded by Israeli air strikes and lost dozens of its senior commanders following a pager and walkie-talkie attack which decimated its ranks.

Qassem’s accession also comes a week after Israel killed Hamas’ leader Yahya Sinwar.

The Hamas boss was the chief orchestrator of the tragic October 7 attacks that killed some 1.200 innocent civilians - while 250 people were taken hostage in Gaza.

Sinwar was taken out by a trainee squad of Israeli commandos after being left as the cowering final survivor of a gunfight.

Sinwar had his last humiliating moments sitting slumped over in an armchair in a bombed-out building in the Strip as he feebly tried to fight off an Israeli drone with a stick.

An autopsy revealed that Sinwar was likely wiped out by a long-range gunshot to the head - executed with sniper-like precision.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Hezbollah names new boss as ageing terrorist who gave chilling TV speech replaces Nasrallah