Naim Qassem, elected Hezbollah secretary-general in late October 2024 following Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination, remains the incumbent amid internal restructuring and external pressures. Lebanese political sources have noted speculation about his potential replacement through channels involving Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, citing his lower profile, prepared speeches, and limited public impact relative to predecessors. Hezbollah has shifted toward collective Shura Council decision-making without naming a deputy, while facing Lebanese government moves on state monopoly of arms, U.S.-mediated Israel-Lebanon talks on withdrawal and disarmament sequencing, and repeated Israeli strikes targeting its infrastructure and personnel. Qassem continues public addresses rejecting framework deals and affirming Iran ties, with recent reports of Israeli targeting attempts and domestic criticism of his remarks. These dynamics—leadership perception gaps, institutional changes, and ongoing diplomatic-military tensions—shape assessments of his tenure stability through late 2026.