Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, announced on Tuesday that Naim Qassem has been elected as its new leader. He takes over from Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike over a month ago in Beirut's southern suburb. The group's Shura Council chose Qassem, 71, following their established process for selecting a new secretary general.
Qassem has been with Hezbollah for a long time. He was appointed deputy chief in 1991 by the previous leader, Abbas al-Musawi, who died in an Israeli attack the next year. Qassem continued in his role when Nasrallah became the leader and has been a key spokesperson for the group, often speaking to foreign media during ongoing conflicts with Israel.
On the other hand, at least 55 Palestinians have died, and many more were injured in an Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building in Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, on Tuesday.
According to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, many victims are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. Reports from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA and Hamas media confirmed the same number of casualties. The situation remains tense as the region faces ongoing violence and humanitarian challenges.