Naim Qassem has served as Hezbollah secretary-general since his October 2024 election by the Shura Council, following the Israeli assassinations of Hassan Nasrallah and designated successor Hashem Safieddine. As of September 2026, he remains the incumbent, delivering frequent public addresses rejecting Lebanon-Israel framework agreements on withdrawal sequencing and disarmament, while affirming the group’s loyalty to Iran and resistance posture. Key pressures include reported Israeli targeting attempts, Lebanese government negotiations in Rome, internal leadership adjustments such as the appointment of a non-cleric deputy, and the loss of Syrian logistical routes after the Assad regime’s collapse. Trader assessments of removal timing center on risks of further targeted strikes, internal Shura Council shifts amid reconstruction challenges, or escalation tied to ongoing ceasefire implementation disputes.