Lebanon's Hezbollah names replacement for slain former leader

Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group announced Tuesday that Naim Qassem, a lawman to its slain long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, will helm nan Iran-backed organization. Qassem has been serving arsenic nan group's acting leader since Nasrallah's death. 

"Hezbollah's (governing) Shura Council agreed to elite ... Sheikh Naim Qassem arsenic caput wide of Hezbollah," nan militant group said successful a connection connected Tuesday.

There was first speculation that nan caput of Hezbollah's executive council, Hashem Safieddine, would win Nasrallah, but he was killed successful different Israeli onslaught connected Beirut's confederate suburbs successful October.

Qassem, 71, was among nan founding members of Hezbollah successful 1982 and has served arsenic nan party's 2nd successful bid since nan group entered nan governmental realm successful nan early 1990's, according to The Counter Extremism Project, an world organization. He was calved successful 1953, and his family is from nan colony of Kfar Fila, connected nan separator pinch Israel.

Nasrallah, who only gave speeches via video because of his fearfulness of assassination, led nan violent group for 30 years pinch fiery rhetoric. Qassem was nan astir elder Hezbollah charismatic to proceed making nationalist appearances aft Nasrallah mostly went into hiding pursuing nan group's 2006 warfare pinch Israel, and was seen arsenic nan group's starring media personality, nan Counter Extremism Project said.

Since Nasrallah was killed successful an Israeli aerial onslaught connected September 27, Qassem has made 3 televised addresses, speaking successful much general Arabic than nan Lebanese dialect favored by Nasrallah.

Haley Ott contributed to this report.

In:
• Hezbollah
• Lebanon