Latest news from the Middle East: ‘The countdown has started’: Israel warns new Hezbollah leader after wave of killings

By Ivor Bennettforeign correspondent

Hamas welcomed the nomination of Naim Qassem as Hezbollah’s new leader as evidence of the group’s revitalization. In reality, however, it reflects a lack of options. Kassem is virtually the only senior person left.

Having helped establish Hezbollah in the early 1980s, the 71-year-old was promoted to deputy head in 1991, becoming one of the group’s most important clerics who set its religious and ideological direction.

But he was always seen as the perennial “number two”. An effective operator in a supporting role, but not an inspiring figurehead to lead the fight against Israel.

Many people in Lebanon consider him to be devoid of charisma and personality. He is nowhere near as much of a father to some as his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, was. Not an inspiring speaker.

But now Kassem has been pushed into the top position due to circumstances.

After Nasrallah’s assassination in Beirut in late September, Hashem Safieddine was considered the most likely successor, despite Kassem’s superiority on paper. But he, too, was killed in an Israeli airstrike just two weeks later as the IDF tried to behead Hezbollah leaders.

Safieddine’s hit came after speculation spread that he would be next in line. It appears that Hezbollah was more cautious with Qassem this time.

He is believed to have fled Beirut for Tehran earlier this month, leaving Lebanon aboard the Iranian foreign minister’s plane after visiting the country.

Kassem has made three televised speeches over the past month. One of them was a defiant rallying cry after Nasrallah’s death, in which he promised Hezbollah supporters that they would continue the fight.

The second meeting, held on October 8, was more conciliatory in nature. He said the armed group supports efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon.

And perhaps this indicates something – that in Qassem’s hands, Iran’s powerful proxy may take a more cautious approach. Some believe this may simply be because Kassem lacks the courage to pursue more feisty policies.

What’s more, Kassem is already a well-known face. Since the beginning of the conflict with Israel in October last year, he has been one of Hezbollah’s leading spokesmen, giving interviews to regional and foreign media.

He is not a military leader who operates in the shadows like those who were targeted by Israel. On the contrary – he was the center of attention, and this can be an important distinction.

For now, however, Israel remains cautious, warning that if Qassem follows in Nasrallah’s footsteps, his term in office will be “the shortest in (Hezbollah’s) history.”