Naim Qassem continues to serve as Hezbollah secretary-general in October 2026, issuing public statements on Israeli withdrawal demands, reconstruction priorities, state monopoly on arms, and Lebanese elections while rejecting framework agreements he described as illegitimate. Appointed in late 2024 after the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, Qassem has adopted a lower-profile approach focused on organizational recovery, with Iranian support aiding command restructuring and rearmament following 2024-2025 losses. Recent developments include Israeli operations in southern Lebanon, domestic political pressure on disarmament amid government formation talks, and polling showing strong Shia opposition to ceding weapons. Traders assess removal risks against Hezbollah’s Shura Council processes, internal stability preferences, and potential triggers such as further targeted actions or shifts in Iranian influence, with no confirmed succession signals in primary statements or reporting.