Paramilitary / Faction Leader Lebanese

Naim Qassem

Also known as Naeem Qasem, Naim Kassem

Naim Qassem is the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militant and political organization. Known for his ideological alignment with Iran, longstanding opposition to Israel, and role as a senior Hezbollah figure prior to assuming its leadership. Recently, Qassem has rejected ceasefire frameworks and direct negotiations with Israel, demanded full Israeli withdrawal, and vowed continued armed resistance. Last updated 2 days ago

Naim Qassem

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PM Netanyahu:

“Look at what Israel’s enemies want. Erdoğan says: "Netanyahu must fall."

And in Hezbollah, Naim Qassem says: "Netanyahu must fall."

Why are they saying this? Because they understand that we will strike them; we will finish the job.

On the other hand, they understand that the alternative is a feeble, weak government.”

Leaders

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem:

We reject the framework agreement with Israel and call for its cancellation. We do not agree to the pilot zones or their outcomes. The framework agreement is illegitimate, illegal, humiliating, and undermines Lebanese sovereignty.

The Lebanese authorities have chosen a path that dishonors them, Lebanon, and the sacrifices of the Lebanese people. Say no for once. Try to show that you have what it takes to achieve something in the future.

Leaders

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Second Lebanon War under the slogan "In our unity we will win": "Seven rounds of negotiations have passed. Give us one achievement. Nothing."

He said the Lebanese government has failed, must use its forces including the resistance to fight Israel, and warned continued talks bring only "disgrace and shame." He called it surrender: "We will not accept surrender."

Leaders

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Second Lebanon War under the slogan "In our unity we will win": "Seven rounds of negotiations have passed. Give us one achievement. Nothing."

He said the Lebanese government has failed, must use its forces including the resistance to fight Israel, and warned continued talks bring only "disgrace and shame." He called it surrender: "We will not accept surrender."

Leaders

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Second Lebanon War under the slogan "In our unity we will win": "Seven rounds of negotiations have passed. Give us one achievement. Nothing."

He said the Lebanese government has failed, must use its forces including the resistance to fight Israel, and warned continued talks bring only "disgrace and shame." He called it surrender: "We will not accept surrender."

Leaders

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam has hit back at Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem, who accused the government of aiding Israel instead of defending sovereignty.

Salam: the greatest help to Israel came from those who pulled Lebanon into "absurd" aid wars...

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam has hit back at Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem, who accused the government of aiding Israel instead of defending sovereignty.

Salam: the greatest help to Israel came from those who pulled Lebanon into "absurd" aid wars, giving Israel the reasons to strike its cities, kill its children and displace hundreds of thousands.

He added that whoever seizes the state's war decisions and ties Lebanon to external agendas "has no right to hand out certificates of patriotism, and certainly not to speak of sovereignty."

Leaders

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem: "A stable Syria supports Lebanon, just as a stable Lebanon supports Syria."

Qassem said a public meeting between Hezbollah and Syria's leadership faces no obstacle and can be held when both sides see fit. He also credited the "memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States" as the path to an IDF withdrawal from Lebanon.

Leaders

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in a video speech delivered in honor of Arbaeen, said the direct negotiations brought Lebanon "only shame, humiliation, disappointment and concessions one after the other."

"All the rounds of talks that took p...

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in a video speech delivered in honor of Arbaeen, said the direct negotiations brought Lebanon "only shame, humiliation, disappointment and concessions one after the other."

"All the rounds of talks that took place, what did we give to Lebanon? Give me just one achievement," Qassem said. "While Israel took everything, the government in Lebanon had nothing left to give after it gave up what it had without any return and without any benefit."

He emphasized that Israel achieved political gains but failed to achieve results on the ground as long as the Muqawama, Hezbollah's military arm, stands to stop the Israeli plan.

Qassem also accused Lebanon's political echelon of helping Israel instead of defending Lebanon's sovereignty.

Leaders

Official letter from Hezbollah to Mojtaba Khamenei:

• Renews its pledge of allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei.

• Describes the current conflict as a continuation of the Battle of Karbala.

• Vows to continue armed resistance.

• Says Hezbollah will remain under Secretary General Naim Qassem while following Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership.

• Expresses full solidarity with Iran and the IRGC, portraying both as united in the same struggle.

Leaders

Hezbollah’s Chief Naeem Qasem:

“We declare this clearly: We have broken the 'US-Israeli project' and entered a new phase.

America and Israel wanted to eliminate the existence of Iran by changing the regime and controlling the country, a...

Hezbollah’s Chief Naeem Qasem:

“We declare this clearly: We have broken the 'US-Israeli project' and entered a new phase.

America and Israel wanted to eliminate the existence of Iran by changing the regime and controlling the country, and they believed they could do so. Iran stood firm.

Israel must leave without conditions or restrictions.

There is no normalization and no cancellation of the state of hostility; there are no achievements for Israel, and there is no partial presence in the Lebanese land”

Leaders

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem:

Following the ceasefire, the next phase is the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, according to a clear timetable.

Israel has no option but to withdraw from Lebanese territory. No...

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem:

Following the ceasefire, the next phase is the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, according to a clear timetable.

Israel has no option but to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Not a single inch of land can remain occupied under any pretext, alongside the cessation of aggression by land, sea, and air, and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.

We are cooperating with the Lebanese Army to the fullest extent. Israel has no role in what we agree upon internally, and it must be prevented from interfering.