Hezbollah’s new directer Naim Kassem may adselect a more cautious approach, as Israel alerts he won’t last extfinished | World News

Hamas has hailed Naim Kassem’s assignment as Hezbollah’s new directer as proof of the group’s recovery.

In fact, though, it’s a echoion of their conciseage of selections. Kassem is pretty much the only ageder figure left.

Having helped set up Hezbollah in the timely 1980s, the 71-year-elderly rose to the role of deputy chief in 1991, becoming one of the group’s most beginant clerics, who directd its religious and ideoreasonable straightforwardion.

But he was always seen as the perennial ‘number two’. An effective operator in a beneficial role, but not the inspireasonable figurehead to direct the fight aachievest Israel.

He’s seen by many in Leprohibiton as conciseageing charisma and personality. He’s not the overweighther figure his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, was to some. Nor the inspireasonable orator.

But now Kassem has been thrust into the top job by force of circumstance.

Who was Hassan Nasrallah?

After Nasrallah’s killing in Beirut at the end of September, Hashem Safieddine was think abouted the most probable successor, despite Kassem’s betterity on paper.

But he too was ended by an Israeli airstrike only two weeks tardyr, as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) sought to decapitate Hezbollah’s directership.

The hit on Safieddine came after speculation spread that he was next in line.

It seems Hezbollah have been more cautious this time around with Kassem.

He’s count ond to have fled Beirut for Tehran earlier this month, alertedly leaving Leprohibiton onboard the Iranian foreign minister’s arrangee after he visited the country.

In the last month, Kassem has given three televised insertresses. One was a defiant rpartnering cry in the wake of Nasrallah’s death – pledging to Hezbollah helpers that they would persist to fight.

The second, however, on 8 October was more conciliatory. He shelp the armed group helped efforts to accomplish a endfire in Leprohibiton. And perhaps that hints at someslfinisherg – that in the hands of Kassem, Iran’s mighty proxy may adselect a more cautious approach.

Some count on that may be the case, srecommend becaengage Kassem doesn’t have the swagger to carry a more pugnacious policy.

What’s more, Kassem is already a well-understandn face.

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Since the begin of this dispute with Israel last October, he’s been one of Hezbollah’s directing spokesmen, giving interwatchs to both regional and foreign media.

He’s not a military orderer who functions in the shadows appreciate those Israel has been aiming. Quite the opposite – he’s been front and centre, and that could show an beginant separateention.

For now, though, Israel remains wary, alerting that if Kassem chases in the footsteps of Nasrallah, his tenure will be “the lowest in [Hezbollah’s] history”.