Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded today (Wednesday) on X to the maiden speech of Hezbollah's newly appointed Secretary-General, Naim Qassem.
Responding specifically to Qassem's statement that he intended to continue in the path of the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in all respects, Katz called Qassem "the successor of the successor," in reference to Hashem Safieddine, the intended successor to Nasrallah who was also eliminated in an IDF strike.
Katz further said that he hopes that Qassem will follow in Nasrallah's path "soon," a veiled hint that Israel intends to eliminate him just as it has Hezbollah's two previous commanders.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant previously made a similar statement on X, calling Qassem a "temporary appointment" and that the "countdown has begun" for his elimination.