Hezbollah announces Naim Qassem as new leader

Hezbollah has announced nan group’s lawman caput wide will go its caller head.

Naim Qassem replaces semipermanent leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed successful an Israeli aerial onslaught successful Beirut past month.

He is 1 of nan fewer elder Hezbollah leaders who remains alive, aft Israel killed astir of nan group’s activity successful a bid of attacks.

The assignment comes arsenic nan conflict successful Lebanon intensified successful caller weeks.

For much than 30 years, Naim Qassem was Hezbollah’s lawman caput wide and 1 of nan group's astir recognised faces.

Hezbollah said he was elected by nan Shura Council, successful accordance pinch nan group’s rules. His whereabouts are unclear, nevertheless immoderate reports propose he has fled to Iran, which is Hezbollah’s main supporter.

Announcing Qassem's promotion, Hezbollah released a connection describing him arsenic "bearing nan blessed banner successful this march".

The connection besides honoured the precocious Nasrallah and others killed successful nan conflict.

The caller Hezbollah activity was expected to beryllium passed to cleric Hashem Safieddine, but connected 22 October it was revealed that he had been killed successful an Israeli aerial onslaught astir 3 weeks prior.

Israel has carried retired aerial strikes crossed Lebanon successful caller weeks, targeting what it says are Hezbollah's operatives, infrastructure and weapons.

On Monday night, nan Israeli subject carried retired aerial strikes successful Lebanon’s eastbound Bekaa Valley, an area wherever Hezbollah has a beardown presence.

The Lebanese wellness ministry said astatine slightest 60 group were killed and much than 50 wounded.

The Israeli subject has yet to remark connected nan attack.

Israel went connected nan violative against Hezbollah aft almost a twelvemonth of cross-border hostilities sparked by nan warfare successful Gaza, saying it wanted to guarantee nan safe return of residents of separator areas displaced by Hezbollah rocket, rocket and drone attacks.

Over nan past year, much than 2,700 group person been killed and astir 12,500 injured successful Lebanon, according to nan country's wellness ministry.

Hezbollah has attacked Israel pinch thousands of rockets and drones complete nan aforesaid period, and astatine slightest 59 group person been killed successful bluish Israel and nan occupied Golan Heights.