Sheikh Naim Qassem’s speech, the new leader of Hezbollah

The new Secretary General of Hezbollah Lebanon delivered his first official speech yesterday evening, Tehran time. Sheikh Naim Qassem, for years alongside Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, formed the three main pillars of Hezbollah’s leadership.After the assassination of Nasrallah in Dahieh and the subsequent martyrdom of Safieddine, who was considered a leading candidate to succeed the martyred Secretary General, Naim Qassem was ultimately chosen for the position through Hezbollah’s established mechanisms for selecting a leader. The Secretary General announced his work program as a continuation of the directives of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.Sheikh Naim Qassem, while offering condolences for the martyrdom of Sheikh Hashem Safieddine and praising his character, said: “While we have lost Sheikh Safieddine, the struggle and resistance continue. Our martyred leader, Mr. Hashem Safieddine, was one of the most prominent individuals on whom our martyred leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah relied. We have lost him, but he truly achieved victory.We have many sacrifices and challenges ahead, but we are confident that victory will be ours.” The Secretary General of Hezbollah Lebanon also expressed condolences for the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, saying, “Martyr Yahya Sinwar was and will remain a symbol of heroism for Palestine and freedom-loving people around the world. I thank the leadership of Hezbollah’s council for trusting me with this heavy responsibility.”Emphasizing that “the trust in our hands is the trust of the martyr Sayyed Abbas Mousavi,” Sheikh Naim Qassem reiterated his commitment to implementing the strategies and policies of the late Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Addressing the martyred leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, he said, “You were the standard-bearer of resistance and victory, a lover of resistance, a source of hope, a herald of triumph, and the beloved of the devoted. You will always be cherished.”Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed, “My work program is a continuation of Sayyed Nasrallah’s agenda and directives in all areas. We will address developments based on requirements and announce our positions accordingly.” The new Secretary General described resistance as a trust passed down from Sayyed Abbas Mousavi and others, emphasizing its preservation as a fundamental duty.Referring to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech about the martyr Sayyed Abbas Mousavi, he said, “I reaffirm his words: Those who assassinated our Secretary General sought to break the spirit of resistance and eliminate the will to fight, but his blood continues to flow in our veins, increasing our pride and dignity.” Sheikh Naim Qassem reiterated the implementation of the military tactics envisioned by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, stating, “We will continue to lead the resistance by following the strategies he outlined and pursuing the political paths he charted in the war.”Sheikh Naim Qassem regarded support for Gaza as a duty and obligation, stating, “Supporting Gaza is essential to counter the Zionist regime’s threat to the entire region through the Gaza front. Everyone must support them. Our resistance will continue to confront occupation, its expansionist goals, and liberate the occupied territories.”The new Secretary General added, “Some believe Israel’s actions are due to provocation, but the question is, does Israel need an excuse? Have we forgotten 75 years of massacres, displacement of Palestinians, land theft, desecration of sanctities, and mass killings?”He emphasized, “International resolutions have never succeeded in expelling Israel from our lands; rather, it was resistance that drove the occupiers out of our land. For over 17 years, Israel has been daily violating Lebanon, and we have witnessed 39,000 air and sea violations by this regime. So do not say, ‘Israel adhered to the rules, and we provoked it.’ This regime needs no excuse for aggression, as history attests.