Hezbolla Dismisses Nasrallah Succession Report: Naim Qassem to Act as Interim Chief

Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Iranian-backed militant group, dismissed a report that the Lebanon-based Iranian-backed organization had already picked a successor following Israeli airstrikes last week with news of the death of its Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. According to reports however, Hezbollah dismissed all these, adding that no changes have been made in the organization. Despite statements the political party has made denying that Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem will head the organization provisionally, reports show just this.

Hezbollah Rebuts Media Reports
Hezbolla issued an official statement yesterday to rebuff the media reports that claimed the terror organization was appointing a new leader as Nasrallah would go down in history with his death. According to the group, all information about its leadership or the inner workings of the group should be distrusted until confirmed through official channels of the organization itself.

Commenting on news circulating on some media outlets about organizational procedures within Hezbollah’s leadership taken after the martyrdom of His Eminence the Secretary-General [Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah]…we are interested in clarifying that the related news is of no importance and can’t be relied upon,” the militant group said in its statement, quoting Iranian state media outlet Press TV.

Denouncing the reports can help stability underpin the uproar following Nasrallah’s death while denying any change occurring inside is part of an effort to project strength and unity as it grows inside under pressure from massive military operations by the Israeli military.
Naim Qassem will probably head the interim position.

Naim Qassem Expected to Lead Temporarily
In reaction to Hezbollah’s denial of reports that the party has accepted, the news organizations, including Associated Press, confirmed that Naim Qassem will assume the role as acting chief for Hezbollah after the militant group’s leader said it will not name Nasrallah’s successor; instead, acting by Hezbollah will ensure continuity and leadership as it may need to cope with the struggles of Nasrallah’s departure.

Naim Qassem has been Hezbollah’s deputy for almost two decades and one of the party’s most distinguished leaders. The probable succession for key responsibilities until his permanent successor comes from Hezbollah’s leadership council will be Naim Qassem when the party finally declares the death of leader Nasrallah. Handover to Qassem as acting leader signifies that the group has a command second line which can carry on operations despite heavy losses it just received from Israel.

Speaking in his first televised address since the assassination of Nasrallah, Qassem promised his people that the resistance against Israel by Hezbollah would never end. He told them that killing some leaders does not weaken the organization but makes it a means for protection of Lebanon at the military level. “Israel did not undermine our military capabilities,” Qassem said. This is while Hezbolla leader warned hezbollah forces will prepare for the worst Israeli ground invasion yet in anticipation of an attack, indicating that the group is not backing off from its operations on the Lebanese-Israeli border, and Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrikes.

Nasrallah Killed in Israeli Airstrikes
Reports of the death of Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah, come in the wake of Israel’s biggest military strike against the organization in recent history. Israeli fighter jets struck an underground bunker last week in the capital city, Beirut, that the extremist group had used as a command center. It is reportedly believed that the infamous Nasrallah and other senior leaders were killed inside this particular bunker. All this in the wake of an all-out Israeli military campaign to weaken the influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and to neutralize what it perceives as a terrorist threat par excellence.

The death of Nasrallah is the most important point in the war between Hezbollah and Israel. For over two decades, Nasrallah has been at the forefront of forming the strategy of the organization, especially armed resistance to Israel. If true, the death of Nasrallah would be a severe blow to the group’s leadership and significantly affect the war dynamics in the region.

Consequences of Nasrallah Death
If he dies, formally declared that would have enormous implications for Hezbollah, Israel, and the wider Middle East. Nasrallah headed Hezbollah since 1992 and gave face to the operations that transformed the militant group into a potent political and military force in Lebanon. Leadership: He has been instrumental in forging Hezbollah’s military capabilities, including the rockets and missiles stockpiled against Israel.

With Nasrallah now dead, power vacuum is at the top of Hezbollah, and such a tragic event brings uncertainties as to what form the future strategy would take for the group. It is indeed Naim Qassem who would provide interim leadership until the situation stabilizes, but it remains to be seen what the long-term succession plan will look like to lead Hezbollah. Rank-and-file loyalty as well as internal leadership strength will both be huge for Hezbollah’s continued cohesion and to be able to carry on operations into the future.

Nasrallah’s death is the latest big military victory for Israel in the long conflict with Hezbollah, but it is unlikely to bring an end to that conflict. Hezbollah has deep and well-entrenched roots in Lebanon, and the fighters will keep on operating even in his absence. Indeed, his death may heighten the intensity of the conflict, as Hezbollah will be tempted to punish Israel for carrying out the airstrikes that killed its leader.

Hezbollah Strategy Ahead
Leadership, after the death of Nasrallah, would still be interested in upholding the integration of the organization and sustaining its war on Israel militarily. Acting head Naim Qassem will play a very important part in avoiding the fragmentation of the group or losing its influence in Lebanon to the last degree. With his vast experience and long time with Nasrallah, Qassem is one of the best possibilities to lead Hezbollah in this transition period.

Beyond this horizon, Hezbollah maintains its defense along the Israeli border and prepares for retaliatory attack if such thing happens later. Most of the military capabilities are retained because Hezbollah fighters prepare to face Israel’s likely ground offensive.

More connotations to future strategies Military and economic support dependency on Iran would also have a broader influence on its future strategies. A long-time ally and supporter, Tehran has given the group arms, training, and funding. So even if Nasrallah dies, therefore, an increase in their help is most likely so that the group remains potent.

Conclusion
Reports of Hassan Nasrallah being replaced by the Shia force say much about a desire to keep the country stable at all costs-even at a cost of being threatened from the external factor. Although Naim Qassem would likely become acting leader no one knows what awaits the long-term future of the leadership post. Nasrallah’s death has resulted in a tremendous blow to Hezbollah, but its military strongholds along with the help of Iran do mean that it will not fade into insignificance in the battle-scarred Middle East. And with Hezbollah marching forward, the leadership will have to deal with the dilemma of the unity of the group to continue to be relevant in the rest of the conflict in the Middle East.

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