Hezbollah announced that the group’s deputy secretary-general would become its new head.
Naim Qassem replaces long-term leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month.
He is one of the few senior Hezbollah leaders who survived after Israel killed most of the group’s leaders in a series of attacks.
The appointment comes as conflict in Lebanon has intensified in recent weeks.
Naim Qassem has been Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general for more than 30 years and one of the group’s most recognized figures.
Hezbollah said he was elected by the Shura Council under the group’s rules. His whereabouts are unclear, but some reports say he fled to Iran, a major supporter of Hezbollah.
He was born in Beirut in 1953 to a family from southern Lebanon.
Qassem was one of the founding members of Hezbollah. Nasrallah’s After being killed in an Israeli airstrike, he gave three televised speeches.
In a speech, he said a ceasefire was the only way Israel could guarantee the return of its people to the north.
Announcing Qassem’s promotion, Hezbollah issued a statement explaining that he was “carrying a blessed flag on this march.”
The statement also paid tribute to the late Nasrallah and others who died in the conflict.
The new Hezbollah leadership was expected to be handed over to cleric Hashem Safieddine, but on October 22 found to have been murdered There was an Israeli airstrike almost three weeks ago.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant took to social media to describe Kassem’s appointment as a “temporary appointment” and “one that will not last long.”
Israel has carried out airstrikes across Lebanon in recent weeks targeting Hezbollah’s personnel, infrastructure and weapons.
On Monday night, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a strong presence.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 60 people were killed and more than 50 injured.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the attack.
Israel has launched an offensive against Hezbollah after nearly a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the Gaza war and has said it wants to ensure the safe return of border residents displaced by Hezbollah rocket, missile and drone attacks.
More than 2,700 people have died and nearly 12,500 have been injured in Lebanon over the past year, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
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.
