(JNS) In his first speech since being appointed Hezbollah leader earlier this week, Naim Qassem vowed on Wednesday, Oct. 30 to continue the path of his slain predecessor Hassan Nasrallah.
“What is my plan? A continuation of my predecessor’s. We will carry on with the war program as it has been outlined so far.”
Responding to Qassem’s new role, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tweeted on Tuesday, “Temporary appointment. Not for long.”
Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Sept. 27 after heading the Iranian-backed terrorist group for more than 30 years, remains “the symbol of the resistance and the beloved of resistance fighters,” he said.
Qassem in his address also paid tribute to the slain head of Hezbollah’s executive council, Hashem Safieddine, as well as Palestinian Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who he said had “resisted until his last breath.”
The newly-minted Lebanese terrorist leader thanked Hezbollah “for placing its trust in me for this heavy responsibility.”
During Qassem’s speech, Israeli Air Force jets began attacking targets in the Baalbek region of northern Lebanon, several hours after issuing an evacuation warning to residents of the area, according to local reports.
Commenting on the Oct. 19 suicide drone assault on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Caesarea residence, Qassem stated: “The resistance has reached Netanyahu’s bedroom, and our diplomatic communications have confirmed that he is scared; perhaps his time hasn’t come yet, but he could very well be killed by an Israeli youth.”
Qassem, who had served as deputy secretary general of Hezbollah since 1991, was elected its new leader on Tuesday.
“The transfer of Naim Qassem to Tehran was by order of the higher authorities in Iran for fear of being assassinated by the Israeli entity, because he is on the list of wanted,” the Iranian source said.
The first address Qassem delivered after Nasrallah’s assassination was delivered in Beirut, while the second and third speeches were delivered from the Islamic Republic, according to the source.
