Naim Qassem’s leadership may prompt larger Iranian role in Hezbollah

Last Update: 2024-11-02 15:00:02 - Source: Middle East Eye

Naim Qassem’s leadership may prompt larger Iranian role in Hezbollah

The new secretary general has domestic expertise, which party insiders say could mean a more hands-on approach from Tehran in Hezbollah’s regional affairs
Heba Nasser
.webp?itok=qazfUbi5 1x" type="image/webp" width="1400" height="787">
?itok=qazfUbi5 1x" type="image/jpeg" width="1400" height="787">
Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, delivers a speech from an undisclosed location on 30 October 2024, in this still image from a video (Reuters)

Naim Qassem's rise to the leadership of Hezbollah marks a new chapter for the Lebanese movement and may, at least in the short term, prompt Iran to take a more hands-on approach in directing its ally, people familiar with the party told Middle East Eye.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah said its consultative Shura Council had designated Qassem as Hassan Nasrallah's replacement, exactly a month after the previous secretary general was killed by Israel.

Qassem is one of the few known senior figures left alive after a brutal Israeli bombing campaign.

Despite the security risks associated with naming him as the new leader (Israel's defence minister immediately threatened that the appointment was "temporary"), a source close to Hezbollah told MEE that the party wanted to show that the Shura Council was still functioning and that it had managed to close gaps, reorganise ranks and fill the positions of slain leaders.

At the helm for 32 years, Nasrallah was known for his expertise in military matters and the regional dynamics of the Middle East.

Qassem's career has been quite different, and his lack of experience in these areas may leave strategic gaps.

"Qassem has long focused on domestic issues and theology and is not as versed in military strategy as his predecessors," Lebanese political and security analyst Ali Rizk told MEE.

"Nasrallah had reached a status where the Iranians used to rely on him on regional issues like Iraq and Yemen. I don't think that Qassem enjoys that same status with Iran, which could prompt Tehran to call the shots more."

Any rise in Iranian involvement, however, is unlikely to be overt. 

www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle

") rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;">Hezbollah is primarily a Lebanese movement, drawing legitimacy from its constituents, who have made it the largest political party in Lebanon’s parliament.

Rizk said Tehran would likely step up its influence indirectly to avoid being seen as micromanaging its allies.

"The announcement itself was Hezbollah sending a message that its members are the ones steering the ship and not Iranian experts, as rumoured," the source close to Hezbollah said.

The old guard

Following Israel's killing of Nasrallah in a massive attack on Beirut on 27 September, Hashem Safieddine, whose personality was likened to Nasrallah's, was the presumed successor. However, he, too, was killed in an even larger strike on Beirut days later.

Subsequently, Qassem, who had long been Nasrallah's deputy, became the obvious choice. He is one of the last few publicly familiar figures in the party's leadership.

Hezbollah’s then-deputy chief, Naim Qassem, meets Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on 30 July 2024 (AFP/Iranian Supreme Leader’s website)

);display:none;">

);display:none;">

www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle

") rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;">

);display:none;">

www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle