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

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?

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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.

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.

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)