Hezbollah faces a decisive moment after the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli bombing on the outskirts of Beirut.
Among the names that are being mentioned as his successor is that of Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah's maternal cousin and head of Hezbollah's Executive Council. Although several Arab media outlets, such as Al Arabiya, reported that Safieddine has already been chosen as the new leader, Hezbollah denied this information through its official channel on Telegram, stating that no formal appointment has been made yet.
The possible appointment of Hashem Safieddine as the new Secretary General of Hezbollah would be a key step for the continuity of the organization, as he is considered a political and military strategist close to Iran, which could ensure the alignment of the group with Tehran's policies. However, the succession process will be crucial in determining the future of Hezbollah both within Lebanon and in its relationship with other regional actors.
Naim Kassem's Promise
The deputy general secretary of the movement and current interim leader stated in a televised speech on Monday, September 30th, that the group is ready to face a prolonged war and defend Lebanon in case of a ground offensive by Israel.
In his first public appearance since the assassination of Nasrallah, Kassem assured that Hezbollah's military capability has not been affected by the elimination of several of its top commanders in recent months. “Our fighters are ready to fight and defend our land if Israel decides to launch a ground offensive,” declared Kassem, who currently leads the group until a new leader is chosen.
Kassem also emphasized that, despite the losses suffered, Hezbollah has maintained its operational structure and has replaced fallen commanders. “Israel has not been able to affect our military capability. We have vice commanders and replacements ready to act in case any commander is injured or eliminated,” he stated.