December 13, 2007
Qassem Now Hizbollah's Military Commander?
What the hell? Can anyone verify the article in Saudi-owned ash-Sharq al-Awsat claiming that Iran has named Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem Hizbollah's military commander in a move designed to reduce Hassan Nasrallah's influence? WTF? This makes no sense, and the source is dubious. Anyone out there heard anything?
UPDATE: Bech was kind enough to forward along Hizbollah's response (Arabic). Abu Muqawama did not believe the story to begin with, but he would have been more satisfied if the statement had more explicitly addressed Qassem's role in the organization.