'Not for long!' Israel sends chilling warning to next Hezbollah leader within hours of announcement

Qassem, who has been a key figure in Hezbollah's upper echelons for since its inception in 1982, was selected by the group's governing Shura Council yesterday.

The 71-year-old Shia cleric becomes the terror group's with Hezbollah engaged in fierce fighting against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and Beirut facing relentless bombing raids.

Naim Qassem, born in Beirut in 1953, previously served as deputy chief under Nasrallah for over three decades.

Unlike his predecessor, Qassem maintained a more public profile, regularly conducting interviews with foreign media and even authoring a book on Hezbollah's history in 2005.

Since Nasrallah's death on September 27, Qassem has made three televised addresses, speaking in formal Arabic rather than the colloquial Lebanese favoured by Nasrallah.

His accession marks the first change in Hezbollah's leadership since February 1992, when Nasrallah took the helm following the assassination of Abbas al-Musawi.

• Israel 'captures 100 Hamas fighters' after hospital raid on 'terrorist stronghold'
• Pro-Palestine protesters 'aggressively intimidate' Jewish community centre attendees as police accused of 'watching on'
• Starmer issues Iran four-word war warning after defending Israel's Tehran bombing raid

Qassem's political career began with the Amal Movement before he joined Hezbollah's founding members in 1982 after being inspired by Iran's Islamic revolution.

Hassan Nasrallah met his demise in a devastating Israeli assault dubbed 'Operation New Order'.

The attack saw Israeli F-15I fighter jets unleash dozens of munitions on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut.

The precision strike decimated half of Hezbollah's leadership council and its top military command.

It came days after a deadly incident involving booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers and radios, which killed dozens and injured thousands.

Nasrallah had become increasingly security-conscious, avoiding public appearances and restricting his movements to a small circle of trusted commanders.

However, Qassem's appointment comes amid escalating tensions that erupted into wider conflict last September.

Benjamin Netanyahu's allies declared their intention to push Hezbollah back from the Israeli-Lebanon border, allowing displaced Israelis to return to their northern homes.

Tensions in the Middle East reached new heights just a few days ago after Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Tehran last Saturday.