Israeli Channel 7 revealed that Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naïm Qassem, fled Lebanon to Tehran on October 5, following a series of assassinations of senior leaders of the Lebanese group since July, which culminated in the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s Secretary-General.

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Naïm Qassem’s Transfer

An “informed source” reported that Qassem left Beirut aboard an Iranian plane, accompanied by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghtchi.

The two landed in Damascus before continuing their journey to Tehran.

The source stated, “Qassem’s second and third speeches after Nasrallah’s assassination were from his residence in Tehran, while the first was from Beirut.”

The source added that Naïm Qassem’s transfer to Tehran was ordered by “the highest authorities in Iran” out of fear that he might be assassinated by Israel, as he is on the Israeli government’s wanted list.

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Unknown Fate

Since Nasrallah’s assassination last month, Hezbollah has been unable to elect a replacement, and the fate of Hashem Safieddine, head of the organization’s executive committee, remains unknown.

When asked if Israel could confirm Safieddine’s death, David Mansour, spokesman for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, replied, “We do not have that confirmation, and when it is confirmed, it will be posted on the Israeli Army’s website.”

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Hezbollah refuses to reveal the name of its new leader for fear that he would be targeted by Israel. Furthermore, the group has refused to confirm or deny Safieddine’s assassination, amid widespread Lebanese reports that he survived the Israeli airstrike.

According to Lebanese security sources, Safieddine is in a safe location in Lebanon, and there is no intention to discuss his whereabouts for the time being to avoid making him a new target for Israel.

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The sources also added that Hezbollah’s political leadership still seems affected by Nasrallah’s assassination and the loss of all senior leaders of the Lebanese group. However, the military wing does not appear to have been significantly affected.