Hezbollah has announced the appointment of Naim Qassem as its new leader, promoting him from his previous role as deputy leader.
The decision, disclosed on Tuesday (29 October), sees Qassem assume the role of secretary-general, replacing Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut late last month, reports Al Jazeera.
Nasrallah’s death is part of a recent wave of targeted strikes on senior Hezbollah figures by Israel, following an intensification of hostilities between the two.
Since September, Israel has increasingly focused its operations on Hezbollah, resulting in the loss of several senior members of the Lebanon-based armed group.
In its official statement, Hezbollah declared Qassem’s promotion, attributing it to his “adherence to the principles and goals of Hezbollah.”
The group further expressed its hopes for divine guidance, stating it would “ask God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission in leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance.”