US officials claim Hezbollah leader takes direct orders from Tehran

American State Department officials have claimed that Naim Qassem, the secretary-general of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, receives his instructions directly from Iranian authorities. The assertion was reported by the Saudi news channel Al-Hadath on Sunday, citing an unnamed source within the US Foreign Service. The comments underscore long-standing American concerns about Iran’s control over Hezbollah’s leadership and decision-making processes. Qassem has held the position of Hezbollah’s secretary-general since February 2023, following the assassination of previous leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in September 2022. The claim reflects wider Western intelligence assessments that characterise Hezbollah as heavily dependent on Iranian funding, weapons supplies and strategic guidance. Iran has historically maintained significant influence over the group’s major policy decisions, though Hezbollah maintains it operates independently as a Lebanese political and military organisation. The accusation comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, with Hezbollah engaged in cross-border exchanges with Israel and maintaining its position as one of the most powerful armed groups outside official state structures in the Middle East.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.