Naim Qassem

Sheikh Naim Qassem is the secretary-general of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. He is a Shiite Lebanese cleric and politician who formerly served as the group’s deputy secretary-general under Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah died in a September 27, 2024, Israeli airstrike. Hezbollah elected Qassem a month later on October 29.“Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as new leader, Israel says he won’t last long,” Reuters, October 29, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-elects-naim-qassem-succeed-slain-head-nasrallah-2024-10-29/.

Born in Kfar fila in southern Lebanon, Qassem was among the founding members of Hezbollah in 1982. Qassem served as Hezbollah’s second-in-command since 1992, when the group entered the political realm. He is widely credited with being Hezbollah’s leading media personality. In 2004, he published a history of Hezbollah that included an autobiographical account of his role in the organization. Two years later, it was translated into numerous languages, including English, and was titled “Hezbollah: The Story from Within.” “The Man in Nasrallah's Shadow: A Profile of Sheikh Naim Qasim,” The Jamestown Foundation, Volume: 3 Issue: 33, August 23, 2006, http://www.jamestown.org/programs/tm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=882&no_cache=1#.VPi1juH0eQF.

Qassem is one of the founders of a Lebanese Muslim student union that was established in the 1970s. Qassem joined the Amal movement when it was led by Imam Musa Sadr. Qassem was also the head of the Islamic religious education association from 1974 to 1988. Qassem participated in foundation activities of Hezbollah and was appointed deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah in 1992.

On October 7, 2023, one day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Hamas—with Iranian support—launched a multi-pronged attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and taking over 240 hostages into Gaza.Josef Federman and Issam Adwan, “Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation,” Associated Press, October 7, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2; “Israeli forces conducting ‘wide-scale strikes’ on Hamas centers in Gaza. Here’s everything you need to know,” CNN, October 9, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-attack-10-09-23/h_adebb4147fc4a83751908555ec54b8c0; Lauren Frayer, “Israel revises down its death toll from the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to about 1,200,” NPR, November 11, 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/11/11/1212458974/israel-revises-death-toll-hamas-attacks-oct-7. On October 8, Hezbollah began a months-long campaign launching rockets, drones, and missiles toward northern Israel.“Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire,” Reuters, October 8, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-strikes-lebanon-after-hezbollah-hits-shebaa-farms-2023-10-08/. During the first few days of the war, Hezbollah sent messages to Israel that it was ready to join the conflict if Israel were to launch a ground assault on Gaza.Dion Nissenbaum and Ari Flanzraich, “At Israel-Lebanon Border, Fears Grow of a Second Front,” Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-israel-lebanon-border-fears-grow-of-a-second-battlefront-cda25139. Nasrallah praised Hamas for its strike against Israel, calling it a message against normalization with Israel.Rory Jones, “Hezbollah Praises Hamas Attack, Warns Against Normalizing Ties With Israel,” October 7, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-gaza-rockets-attack-palestinians/card/hezbollah-praises-hamas-attack-warns-against-normalising-ties-with-israel-rbqLpR9QDzCyiUGQw0xl. On October 11, the United states announced it was sending two aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean to provide support and deter foreign intervention against Israel. Specifically, the United States warned Hezbollah against intervening in the war.Vivian Salama, “U.S. Looks at Risks of Deeper Involvement With Israel’s War on Hamas,” Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-looks-at-risks-of-deeper-involvement-with-israels-war-on-hamas-eaf00b73. On October 13, Qassem proclaimed that Hezbollah had a plan and would carry it out at the appropriate time. According to Qassem, Hezbollah was “fully ready” to join the war, and international warnings would not affect its decision.“Hezbollah says calls for it not to intervene in war ‘will have no effect,’” Reuters, October 13, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-says-when-time-comes-any-action-we-will-carry-it-out-2023-10-13/. In a November 2023 interview with NBC News, Qassem threatened that Hezbollah would increase its attacks on Israel if Israel continued targeting the Gaza Strip. He accused the United States of being “the mastermind” of Israel’s campaign in Gaza.Matt Bradley and Natasha Lebedeva, “Iran-backed groups threaten to expand Gaza war as they step up attacks on Israel and U.S.,” NBC News, November 7, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-iran-attacks-israel-gaza-war-death-toll-rcna123959.

Hezbollah continued to launch near-daily rocket attacks into northern Israel into 2024. In an exclusive interview with NBC News on April 18, 2024, Qassem blamed Israel and the United States for perpetuating a cycle of violence in Lebanon. Qassem claimed that Hezbollah did not seek escalation with Israel but would respond to Israeli actions in Lebanon. He also criticized Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for aiding Israel in defending against an Iranian missile attack over the previous weekend.Matt Bradley, Ziad Jaber, and Natasha Lebedeva, “Hezbollah's second-in-command insists it is not seeking war, but would respond to Israeli escalation,” NBC News, April 18, 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-naim-qassem-exclusive-interview-war-escalation-rcna148332.

On June 12, 2024, Hezbollah launched 215 projectiles toward Israel, targeting an Israeli military headquarters and a military air surveillance station. It was one of Hezbollah’s largest attacks since October 2023.Euan Ward, “Hezbollah Launches Rocket Barrage After Israeli Strike Kills a Commander,” New York Times, June 12, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/12/world/middleeast/hezbollah-rockets-israel-strike.html. In response, on June 14, Israel launched a rocket attack, targeting the home of Hezbollah Executive Assembly leader Hashem Safieddine in Deir Qanoun in southern Lebanon. According to media sources, the strike targeted Safieddine, Qassem, and Hezbollah co-founder and former leader Subhi al-Tufayli. Shortly after, an unidentified Hezbollah spokesman claimed the building was empty when it was struck down.“Two killed and at least 20 injured in Israeli strike near Deir Qanoun,” L’Orient Today, June 14, 2024, https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1417298/paramedic-killed-and-at-least-20-injured-in-israeli-strike-near-deir-qanoun.html.

On September 27, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, killing Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoshan, a U.S.-sanctioned senior member of Iran’s IRGC who served as a military adviser during the Syrian civil war. On September 28, Israel confirmed Nasrallah died in the strike. A few hours later, Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, calling him a “sacred martyr.”Bassem Mroue, “Israel strikes Hezbollah in a huge blast targeting the militant group’s leader,” Associated Press, September 28, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-suburb-617575d9c5d7c711bc02e7b81d2ba4ad; Mick Krever, Sarah El Sirgany, Eyad Kourdi, Mostafa Salem and Jeremy Diamond, “Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut strike, group confirms,” CNN, September 28, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/28/middleeast/hezbollah-nasrallah-killed-israel-strikes-intl/index.html. During a September 30 televised broadcast from an undisclosed location, Qassem announced that Hezbollah would select a new secretary-general and replenish its leadership ranks as soon as possible. Regarding Israel, Qassem pledged that the battle may be long, but Hezbollah would triumph. According to Qassem, Hezbollah continued to send rockets almost 100 miles deep into Israel. He warned that Hezbollah was ready to face an Israeli ground invasion in Lebanon and the group’s rocket attacks were the “bare minimum” of the group’s response to Israel.“Lebanon’s Hezbollah will pick new leader at earliest opportunity, says its deputy chief,” Reuters, September 30, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-will-pick-new-leader-earliest-opportunity-says-its-deputy-2024-09-30/.

After Nasrallah’s death, reports circulated that Safieddine would become the group’s new leader. However, Safieddine died in an Israeli strike in Beirut in early October 2024.“Hezbollah’s Hashem Safieddine, heir apparent to Nasrallah, killed in Israeli attack, group says,” Reuters, October 23, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollahs-hashem-safieddine-heir-apparent-nasrallah-killed-israeli-attack-group-2024-10-23/. On October 29, Hezbollah’s Shura Council elected Qassem as Hezbollah’s new secretary-general. Israeli officials immediately responded with threats that Qassem would meet the same fate as his predecessor. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted with a picture of Qassem on X with the comment, “Not for long.” The official Israeli government X account posted: “His tenure in this position may be the shortest in the history of this terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.”“Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as new leader, Israel says he won’t last long,” Reuters, October 29, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-elects-naim-qassem-succeed-slain-head-nasrallah-2024-10-29/.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Hezbollah
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
Position(s):
Secretary-general (formerly deputy secretary-general)

Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.

  • Rhetoric

Sept. 30, 2024

In a televised announcement from an undisclosed location following the September 27 assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah:

“What we are doing is the bare minimum... We know that the battle may be long. We will win as we won in the liberation of 2006 in the face of the Israeli enemy.”“Lebanon’s Hezbollah will pick new leader at earliest opportunity, says its deputy chief,” Reuters, September 30, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-will-pick-new-leader-earliest-opportunity-says-its-deputy-2024-09-30/.

April 18, 2024

In an interview with NBC News about ongoing Hezbollah attacks on Israel since October 8, 2023:

“We didn’t expect the war would last this long because we didn’t think that Netanyahu was that foolish, same for Biden and the other countries.”Matt Bradley, Ziad Jaber, and Natasha Lebedeva, “Hezbollah's second-in-command insists it is not seeking war, but would respond to Israeli escalation,” NBC News, April 18, 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-naim-qassem-exclusive-interview-war-escalation-rcna148332.

Nov. 7, 2023

In an interview with NBC News about Hezbollah’s month-long rocket campaign against Israel after Hamas’s October 7 massacre:

“Those in the Axis of Resistance have seen that the mastermind is America. So they strike America under the principle of sending a message to stop. Just as Israel should stop. How does America and the rest of the world have the right to stand on the side of Israel that kills civilians and children and destroys homes while we don’t have the right to support our people and our loved ones in Palestine and the region?” Matt Bradley and Natasha Lebedeva, “Iran-backed groups threaten to expand Gaza war as they step up attacks on Israel and U.S.,” NBC News, November 7, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-iran-attacks-israel-gaza-war-death-toll-rcna123959.

Nov. 7, 2023

In an interview with NBC News about Hezbollah’s month-long rocket campaign against Israel after Hamas’s October 7 massacre:

“Hezbollah participates for the sake of lowering the pressure on Gaza.”Matt Bradley and Natasha Lebedeva, “Iran-backed groups threaten to expand Gaza war as they step up attacks on Israel and U.S.,” NBC News, November 7, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hezbollah-iran-attacks-israel-gaza-war-death-toll-rcna123959.

Oct. 13, 2023

In response to U.S. warnings that Hezbollah not get involved in the October 2023 war between Hamas and Israel:

“The question being asked, which everyone is waiting for, is: what Hezbollah will do and what will its contribution be? We will contribute to the confrontation within our plan... when the time comes for any action, we will carry it out.”“Hezbollah says calls for it not to intervene in war ‘will have no effect,’” Reuters, October 13, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-says-when-time-comes-any-action-we-will-carry-it-out-2023-10-13/.

April 2020

In an interview with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV:

“On April 11, 1996, the Israeli enemy sought to sow the seeds of division between Hezbollah and the Lebanese nation through committing massacres. Several world states conspired with the Zionists after the so-called Summit of Peacemakers in the Egyptian port city of Sharm El-Sheikh in order to end the resistance movement.”“Hezbollah totally ready to confront Israeli military aggression at any time: Top official,” PressTV, April 14, 2020, https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/04/14/623012/Hezbollah-totally-ready-to-confront-Israeli-military-aggression-at-any-time:-Top-official.

Jun. 2014

“America and its allies are responsible for the bringing in and financing of Takfiri terrorism in our region through the Syrian gate.”“America and its allies responsible for terrorism: Qassem,” Daily Star, June 14, 2014, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-14/260130-america-and-its-allies-responsible-for-terrorism-qassem.ashx.

May 2014

“Israel is the main enemy. But the tactical priority depends on the direct threat, so our confrontation with takfiri groups derives from the direct danger they represent, and it does not affect our readiness to confront Israel. … Israel is the enemy of humanity and truth. It cannot coexist with anyone. … We don’t have a military wing and a political one; we don’t have Hezbollah on one hand and the resistance party on the other…Every element of Hezbollah, from commanders to members as well as our various capabilities, are in the service of the resistance, and we have nothing but the resistance as a priority.”“Hezbollah strong enough to confront both fundamentalists and Israel: Qassem,” Daily Star, May 22, 2014, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-22/257470-hezbollah-strong-enough-to-confront-both-fundamentalists-and-israel-qassem.ashx.

Apr. 2014

“My conviction is that Assad will run and will win because he has popular support in Syria from all the sects - Sunnis and secularists. I believe the election will take place on its due date and Assad will run and win decisively.”Samia Nakhoul and Laila Bassam, “Hezbollah confident in Assad, West resigned to Syria stalemate,” Reuters, April 9, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/us-syria-crisis-hezbollah-insight-idUSBREA3815C20140409.

Feb. 2012

“America knows that if there is a war on Iran, this means that the whole region will be set alight, with no limit to the fires.” “Hezbollah says attack on Iran would set Middle East ablaze,” by Michael Scott and Samia Nakhoul, Reuters, February 29, 2012, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/us-iran-israel-hezbollah-idUSTRE81S19J20120229.

Jan. 2009

“We need to say ‘stop’ to the United States. We must not allow the Americans to create more mess in our internal affairs. Power has to be affiliated to those who have popularity, not to those who exploit the opportunities of others.” “Interview: Naim Qassem,” Al Jazeera, January 29, 2009, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/11/2008525183720231945.html.

Aug. 2006

[Seizing south Lebanon from Israeli control was] “the grandest and most important victory over Israel since it commenced its occupation [of Palestine] fifty years before - a liberation that was achieved at the hands of the weakest of nations, of a resistance operating through the most modest of means, not at the hands of armies with powerful military arsenals.”“Learning from Its Mistakes: Charles Glass on Hizbullah,” London Review of Books, August 17, 2006, https://www.charlesglass.net/learning-from-its-mistakes-charles-glass-on-hizbullah/.

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Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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