Hezbollah to pick Nasrallah's successor soon

The group's structure allows it to find replacements for all senior members, as they already have deputies and qualified members.

30 Sep 2024 08:35pm
An image grab taken from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV shows deputy chief Naim Qassem delivering a speech. Photo by AFP
An image grab taken from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV shows deputy chief Naim Qassem delivering a speech. Photo by AFP

BEIRUT - Lebanon's Hezbollah vowed on Monday to quickly choose a successor to killed leader Hassan Nasrallah and to continue the group’s decades-long fight against Israel, reported German news agency (dpa).

Deputy head Naim Kassem, in a televised speech, said the group will choose a successor for Nasrallah to assume the secretary-general’s position "as soon as possible".

He said the group's structure allows it to find replacements for all senior members, as they already have deputies and qualified members.

"We know the battle could be long, and we are ready for any possibility. If Israel decides to launch a ground invasion, we are ready for a ground engagement," Kassim said, in the speech broadcast by the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar TV channel.

"Israel will not be able to affect our military capabilities," he said, vowing to continue their support for the Palestinians in Gaza.

Kassim's appearance on television, wearing black while sitting in a closed room, refutes rumours that he was killed in the same strike that killed Nasrallah. - BERNAMA-dpa