Sources close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Office of Coordination and Recruiting in Lebanon have confirmed that in August 2007, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei transferred command over the military wing of Hizbullah from Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah to his deputy Na'im Qasim.

According to the report, the transfer of the powers followed a report issued by an IRGC intelligence delegation that visited Lebanon.

An officer in the IRGC in Lebanon said Khamenei's move came against the backdrop of increased disagreement between Nasrallah and Qasim over issues connected to Hizbullah's military wing. He added that Qasim is now Khamenei's representative in Lebanon and Palestine, and thus is more senior than Nasrallah.

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 13, 2007