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Hezbollah has announced Naim Qassem as its new secretary general, filling a crucial vacancy as the Iran-backed militant group comes under increasing Israeli military pressure that has wiped out a large proportion of its top echelons.
His predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an air attack on Beirut in September. Mr Qassem was Nasrallah's deputy for three decades, but he was not considered a likely successor until Israel started dismantling Hezbollah's command structure, reducing the pool of veteran figures who could take over.
Mr Qassem is an unknown quantity as far as the military and political capabilities that Hezbollah needs to survive the Israeli onslaught. He is widely seen as more of a theoretician than a tactician. In his deputy role he focused on public relations – mainly media interviews – and Hezbollah's electoral campaigns.
He was a disciple of Imam Musa Al Sadr, an eminent Lebanese Shiite cleric who disappeared in Libya in 1978, just after meeting dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Mr Al Sadr preached coexistence and even famously lectured at a church in downtown Beirut.
Shortly after Mr Al Sadr's disappearance, Mr Qassem left Amal, the Shiite movement that the imam had founded. His career took a more militant trajectory, as he became one of the first cadres of Hezbollah when it was founded by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Syrian intelligence in the 1980s.
In one interview, he said that training camps set up by the IRGC in the Bekaa Valley during Lebanon's civil war made people discover “a classy model of education, preparedness, morals and faith”.
After an inconclusive war with Israel in 2006, Mr Qassem's pronouncements grew more dismissive of the country, hinting that Israel might be too divided to win a new war against the group. Since the killing of Mr Nasrallah, he has said repeatedly that Hezbollah remains strong, despite Israel's invasion of south Lebanon and expanding aerial attacks across the country.
But Mr Qassem said that Hezbollah would sign a ceasefire with Israel, abandoning a previous stance that tied a ceasefire in Lebanon with a ceasefire in Gaza.
He was not the first choice to succeed Mr Nasrallah. Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s maternal cousin and head of Hezbollah's executive council, had been seen as the likely new leader. However, Mr Safieddine was assassinated days after the killing of Nasrallah in another Israeli bombing of Beirut. Hezbollah only confirmed Mr Safieddine's death last week.
Mr Qassem was appointed deputy leader in 1991 by Hezbollah's then-secretary general Abbas Al Musawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year.
The Israeli army has only made limited progress in its invasion of south Lebanon under intense fire from Hezbollah units. The militant group has ramped up the scope of its attacks on Israel, hitting military bases near Tel Aviv.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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