Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah on Tuesday (Oct 29) declared Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new chief, weeks after Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut. The Iran-backed group said in a statement, “Hezbollah's (governing) Shura Council agreed to elect... Sheikh Naim Qassem as secretary general of Hezbollah." Qassem has been one of the most visible faces of Hezbollah in recent years, even after Nasrallah went underground after the group’s 2006 war with Israel.

Qassem’s appointment comes after Israel killed Nasrallah’s potential heir Safieddine earlier this month.

<h2>Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem?</h2>

It was in 1991 when Qassem was appointed the deputy chief of the group by then-secretary general Abbas al-Musawi. However, al-Musawi was taken down by Israel the very next year, in 1992.

Later, when Nasrallah became the chief, Qassem continued as the group’s deputy chief. He was the first Hezbollah leader to make a televised address following Nasrallah’s killing. He is also considered as the group’s official spokesperson, who often appears in interviews with foreign media.

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In his address after Nasrallah’s killing, Qassem had vowed that the group will choose the next leader “at the earliest opportunity” and would continue to fight Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. “What we are doing is the bare minimum… We know that the battle may be long,” he said in a 19-minute speech.

<h2>Qassem’s rise </h2>

Qassem was born in 1953 in Lebanon’s south. His political career began after he joined the Lebanese Shi’ite Amal Movement. Following Iran’s Islamic Revolution, he left the movement in 1979.

When Hezbollah was formed, with the backing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qassem began taking part in the group’s meetings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwizk4miybOJAxULRmwGHT3MFlYQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-names-naim-qassem-as-successor-to-late-hassan-nasrallah-771637" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-names-naim-qassem-as-successor-to-late-hassan-nasrallah-771637&amp;ved=2ahUKEwizk4miybOJAxULRmwGHT3MFlYQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah</a>

Qassem is known for wearing white turban, in contrast with black ones worn by Nasrallah and Safieddine, depicting their status as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

Qassem has also been Hezbollah’s general coordinator of the parliamentary elections since 1992.

(With inputs from agencies)

Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah on Tuesday (Oct 29) declared Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new chief, weeks after Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut.

Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah on Tuesday (Oct 29) declared Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new chief, weeks after Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut. The Iran-backed group said in a statement, “Hezbollah's (governing) Shura Council agreed to elect... Sheikh Naim Qassem as secretary general of Hezbollah." Qassem has been one of the most visible faces of Hezbollah in recent years, even after Nasrallah went underground after the group’s 2006 war with Israel. Qassem’s appointment comes after Israel killed Nasrallah’s potential heir Safieddine earlier this month. Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem? It was in 1991 when Qassem was appointed the deputy chief of the group by then-secretary general Abbas al-Musawi. However, al-Musawi was taken down by Israel the very next year, in 1992. Later, when Nasrallah became the chief, Qassem continued as the group’s deputy chief. He was the first Hezbollah leader to make a televised address following Nasrallah’s killing. He is also considered as the group’s official spokesperson, who often appears in interviews with foreign media. Also read: Israel targets Hezbollah weapons' sites in overnight strikes; group fires rockets at Israeli military base In his address after Nasrallah’s killing, Qassem had vowed that the group will choose the next leader “at the earliest opportunity” and would continue to fight Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. “What we are doing is the bare minimum… We know that the battle may be long,” he said in a 19-minute speech. Qassem’s rise Qassem was born in 1953 in Lebanon’s south. His political career began after he joined the Lebanese Shi’ite Amal Movement. Following Iran’s Islamic Revolution, he left the movement in 1979. When Hezbollah was formed, with the backing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qassem began taking part in the group’s meetings. Also read: West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as successor to late Hassan Nasrallah Qassem is known for wearing white turban, in contrast with black ones worn by Nasrallah and Safieddine, depicting their status as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Qassem has also been Hezbollah’s general coordinator of the parliamentary elections since 1992. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s new white-turbaned chief?

The Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-to-ban-hezbollah-under-anti-terror-laws-199666">Hezbollah</a> believes a US war on Iran is unlikely and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trumps-decision-has-emboldened-iran-to-take-on-more-risks-230489">US President Donald Trump</a> would not be able to control the results of a conflict that could engulf the region.

Sheikh Naim Qassem, in an interview with Lebanon's al-Joumhouria newspaper, said such a war would be fought on many fronts, not just one, meaning losses would be countless.

"At the regional level, we see as unlikely an American war against Iran for many reasons, the most important of them being first that Iran is a strong state with important defensive capabilities," Qassem said.

Trump "does not benefit from a war that he can start but whose results he cannot control and which might begin with Iran but may be accompanied by the region being set on fire", he said.

Hezbollah is a heavily armed group founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 that has fought more recently in regional conflicts including Syria and Iraq as part of a Tehran-backed alliance.

Qassem noted what he described as "the great accomplishments" of the alliance led by Iran over the last two decades in "Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere".

The United States views Hezbollah as a terrorist group.

On Wednesday, Trump said any war between Iran and the United States would be swift, but reiterated his desire to avoid a military confrontation even while blasting Tehran’s leaders.

The United States has imposed crippling financial sanctions against Iran since last year when Trump withdrew from a 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme.

Tension has escalated sharply since last month when the Trump administration tightened its sanctions noose, ordering all countries to halt purchases of Iranian oil.

The Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah believes a US war on Iran is unlikely and US President Donald Trump would not be able to control the results of a conflict that could engulf the region.

The Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah believes a US war on Iran is unlikely and US President Donald Trump would not be able to control the results of a conflict that could engulf the region. Sheikh Naim Qassem, in an interview with Lebanon's al-Joumhouria newspaper, said such a war would be fought on many fronts, not just one, meaning losses would be countless. "At the regional level, we see as unlikely an American war against Iran for many reasons, the most important of them being first that Iran is a strong state with important defensive capabilities," Qassem said. Trump "does not benefit from a war that he can start but whose results he cannot control and which might begin with Iran but may be accompanied by the region being set on fire", he said. Hezbollah is a heavily armed group founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 that has fought more recently in regional conflicts including Syria and Iraq as part of a Tehran-backed alliance. Qassem noted what he described as "the great accomplishments" of the alliance led by Iran over the last two decades in "Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere". The United States views Hezbollah as a terrorist group. On Wednesday, Trump said any war between Iran and the United States would be swift, but reiterated his desire to avoid a military confrontation even while blasting Tehran’s leaders. The United States has imposed crippling financial sanctions against Iran since last year when Trump withdrew from a 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme. Tension has escalated sharply since last month when the Trump administration tightened its sanctions noose, ordering all countries to halt purchases of Iranian oil.

Hezbollah sees United States war on Iran as unlikely: Report

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Who is Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s new white-turbaned chief?

Hezbollah sees United States war on Iran as unlikely: Report