Naim Qassem

Naim Qassem (born February 1953) is a Lebanese Shia cleric and politician who is serving as the 4th secretary-general of Hezbollah since 29 October 2024. He participated in the founding of Hezbollah in 1982, and previously served as the first deputy secretary-general from 1991 to 2024. Born in Kfar Kila, Qassem received a master's degree in chemistry from the Lebanese University in 1977. He worked as a chemistry teacher, before joining Amal, a political movement led by Musa al-Sadr. He studied theology under Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. Following the Iranian Revolution, he helped found Hezbollah. In 1991, he was appointed as deputy secretary-general under secretary-general Abbas al-Musawi, a role he retained under Al-Musawi's successor, Hassan Nasrallah. He led the party's electoral campaigns, and held a leading intellectual and ideological role. Following the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, he was appointed acting secretary-general. A month later in October, Qassem was elected as secretary-general after Nasrallah's possible successor Hashem Safieddine was assassinated by Israeli strikes. On 7 March 2026, it was reported that Lebanese Minister of Justice is considering the option of prosecuting him.