عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Iran's President: Naim Qassem Will 'Strengthen' Resistance

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, listens to a lawmaker after speaking on his next year's budget bill in an open session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, listens to a lawmaker after speaking on his next year's budget bill in an open session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
TT
TT

Iran's President: Naim Qassem Will 'Strengthen' Resistance

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, listens to a lawmaker after speaking on his next year's budget bill in an open session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center, listens to a lawmaker after speaking on his next year's budget bill in an open session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday the appointment of Naim Qassem to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah chief would "strengthen" the resistance.

Pezeshkian expressed confidence that Qassem's appointment "will strengthen the will of the resistance,” while hoping for "the cessation of aggression by the illegal Zionist regime (Israel) and the establishment of peace, tranquility and security in Gaza, Lebanon, and the entire region," according to his website.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its decision-making Shura Council elected Qassem, 71, as its new secretary-general and vowed to continue Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved.”

Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, and senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine - considered the most likely successor - was killed in Israeli strikes a week later.

Since Nasrallah's killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on Oct. 8 in which he said the Iran-backed group supported efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church

A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
TT
TT

At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church

A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A Syrian man reacts inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweila in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said.

Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was an ISIS member. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.

Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as putting the preliminary casualty toll at nine dead and 13 injured.

Some local media reported that children were among the casualties.

A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defense, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.

Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.

“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,” he said in a post on X. “We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship ... and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.”