Hezbollah has announced that the group’s deputy secretary-general will become its new leader.
Naim Qasim replaces long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month.
He was one of the few senior Hezbollah leaders to survive after Israel killed most of its leaders in a series of attacks.
The appointment comes as conflict in Lebanon intensifies in recent weeks.
Naim Qasim has served as Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general for more than 30 years and is one of the group’s most recognizable faces.
Hezbollah said he was elected by the Shura Council in accordance with the group’s rules. His whereabouts are unclear, but some reports say he has fled to Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer.
Hezbollah issued a statement when announcing Qasim’s promotion, saying he “carried high the sacred flag in this march.”
The statement also commended late Nasrallah and others killed in the conflict.
The new Hezbollah leadership was expected to be handed over by cleric Hashem Safieddine, but on October 22 It was revealed that he had been killed Israeli air strikes nearly three weeks ago.
Israel has carried out airstrikes across Lebanon in recent weeks, targeting Hezbollah operatives, infrastructure and weapons.
On Monday night, the Israeli military carried out air strikes in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, an area where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health said at least 60 people died and more than 50 were injured.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the attack.
Israel has launched an offensive against Hezbollah after the war in Gaza sparked nearly a year of cross-border hostilities, saying it wanted to ensure the safe return of border residents displaced by Hezbollah rocket, missile and drone attacks.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 2,700 people have been killed and nearly 12,500 injured in Lebanon over the past year.
Hezbollah attacked Israel with thousands of rockets and drones during the same period, killing at least 59 people in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.
