Naim Qassem

Sheikh Naim Qassem is a Shia Lebanese cleric and politician and second in command of Hezbollah (“Party of God”). He holds the title of deputy secretary-general. World Heritage Encyclopedia, http://community.worldheritage.org/articles/Naim_Qassem#cite_note-wmer5dec-2.

Born Naim Qassem in Kfar fila, in southern Lebanon, Naim Qassem was among the founding members of Hezbollah in 1982. Qassem has served as Hezbollah’s second-in-command since 1992, when the group entered the political realm. He is widely credited with being Hezbollah’s leading media personality. In 2004, he published a history of Hezbollah that included an autobiographical account of his role in the organization. Two years later, it was translated into numerous languages, including English, and was titled “Hezbollah: The Story from Within.” “The Man in Nasrallah's Shadow: A Profile of Sheikh Naim Qasim,” The Jamestown Foundation, Volume: 3 Issue: 33, August 23, 2006, http://www.jamestown.org/programs/tm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=882&no_cache=1#.VPi1juH0eQF.

Qassem is one of the founders of a Lebanese Muslim student union that was established in the 1970s. Qassem joined the Amal movement when it was led by Imam Musa Sadr. Qassem was also the head of the Islamic religious education association from 1974 to 1988. Qassem participated in foundation activities of Hezbollah and was appointed deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah in 1992.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
Hezbollah
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Type(s) of Organization:
Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
Position(s):
Deputy Secretary-General

Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.

  • Rhetoric

April 2020

In an interview with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV:

“On April 11, 1996, the Israeli enemy sought to sow the seeds of division between Hezbollah and the Lebanese nation through committing massacres. Several world states conspired with the Zionists after the so-called Summit of Peacemakers in the Egyptian port city of Sharm El-Sheikh in order to end the resistance movement.”“Hezbollah totally ready to confront Israeli military aggression at any time: Top official,” PressTV, April 14, 2020, https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/04/14/623012/Hezbollah-totally-ready-to-confront-Israeli-military-aggression-at-any-time:-Top-official.

Jun. 2014

“America and its allies are responsible for the bringing in and financing of Takfiri terrorism in our region through the Syrian gate.”“America and its allies responsible for terrorism: Qassem,” Daily Star, June 14, 2014, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-14/260130-america-and-its-allies-responsible-for-terrorism-qassem.ashx.

May 2014

“Israel is the main enemy. But the tactical priority depends on the direct threat, so our confrontation with takfiri groups derives from the direct danger they represent, and it does not affect our readiness to confront Israel. … Israel is the enemy of humanity and truth. It cannot coexist with anyone. … We don’t have a military wing and a political one; we don’t have Hezbollah on one hand and the resistance party on the other…Every element of Hezbollah, from commanders to members as well as our various capabilities, are in the service of the resistance, and we have nothing but the resistance as a priority.”“Hezbollah strong enough to confront both fundamentalists and Israel: Qassem,” Daily Star, May 22, 2014, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-22/257470-hezbollah-strong-enough-to-confront-both-fundamentalists-and-israel-qassem.ashx.

Apr. 2014

“My conviction is that Assad will run and will win because he has popular support in Syria from all the sects - Sunnis and secularists. I believe the election will take place on its due date and Assad will run and win decisively.”Samia Nakhoul and Laila Bassam, “Hezbollah confident in Assad, West resigned to Syria stalemate,” Reuters, April 9, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/us-syria-crisis-hezbollah-insight-idUSBREA3815C20140409.

Feb. 2012

“America knows that if there is a war on Iran, this means that the whole region will be set alight, with no limit to the fires.” “Hezbollah says attack on Iran would set Middle East ablaze,” by Michael Scott and Samia Nakhoul, Reuters, February 29, 2012, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/us-iran-israel-hezbollah-idUSTRE81S19J20120229.

Jan. 2009

“We need to say ‘stop’ to the United States. We must not allow the Americans to create more mess in our internal affairs. Power has to be affiliated to those who have popularity, not to those who exploit the opportunities of others.” “Interview: Naim Qassem,” Al Jazeera, January 29, 2009, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/11/2008525183720231945.html.

Aug. 2006

[Seizing south Lebanon from Israeli control was] “the grandest and most important victory over Israel since it commenced its occupation [of Palestine] fifty years before - a liberation that was achieved at the hands of the weakest of nations, of a resistance operating through the most modest of means, not at the hands of armies with powerful military arsenals.”“Learning from Its Mistakes: Charles Glass on Hizbullah,” London Review of Books, August 17, 2006, http://www.charlesglass.net/archives/2006/08/learning_from_i_1.html.

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Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On September 15, 2019, a truck bomb exploded outside of the Al-Rai Hospital in Syria’s Aleppo Governorate, killing 12 civilians and injuring many more. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. 

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