Israel says Hezbollah's new leader 'won't last long'

(CLO) Hezbollah appointed Naim Qassem as its new leader on Tuesday but Israel said he would not “last long”, an apparent threat after Israel killed his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut more than a month ago.

"Temporary appointment. Not for long," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X with a photo of Qassem. Earlier, Hezbollah announced in a written statement that its Shura Council had elected Qassem, 71, as the movement's new Secretary General.

Hezbollah's new leader Sheikh Naim Qassem. Photo: Reuters

Qassem was appointed Hezbollah deputy leader in 1991 by the group's then-secretary-general Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an Israeli helicopter attack the following year.

Meanwhile, his predecessor Nasrallah was killed on September 27 in an Israeli airstrike on the southern outskirts of Beirut. Furthermore, senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine – considered the most likely successor – was also killed in Israeli airstrikes a week later.

"His tenure in office could be the shortest in the history of the terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine," the Israeli government said in a statement on social media network X.

“There is no solution for Lebanon except to disband this organization as a military force,” the statement added.

Israel's announcement comes amid continued bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon. Medical sources said at least 143 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza on Tuesday, including 132 in northern Gaza.

Israeli strikes have left hundreds more dead in just one day in Gaza and Lebanon. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, Lebanon's health ministry said at least 77 people were killed in airstrikes across the country on Tuesday, including 10 people, mostly women and children, in the southern Lebanese town of Sarafand.

In addition, Israel also lost four more Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza and one soldier in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since October last year to 777.

In another incident that has caused international outrage, Israel has passed a law banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA). UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu protesting the ban.

Hoang Anh (according to AJ, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/israel-noi-lanh-dao-moi-hezbollah-khong-tru-duoc-lau-them-hang-tram-nguoi-thiet-mang-o-gaza-va-lebanon-post319093.html