Lebanese Shi’ite milita-cum-political movement Hezbollah announced the election of Sheikh Naim Qassem as its new secretary-general, following established procedures for leadership selection, the group said in a statement on October 29.

The decision was reached by consensus within Hezbollah's Shura Council, according to the statement, which cited the group's commitment to its founding principles and Islamic values, Lebanese Shia channel Al-Manar reported following the killing of his previous successor to Hassan Nasrallah.

"Based on faith in God Almighty, commitment to authentic Muhammadan Islam, adherence to Hezbollah's principles and goals, and in accordance with the approved mechanism for electing the Secretary-General, Hezbollah's Shura Council has agreed to elect His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem as Secretary-General of Hezbollah," the statement read.

The leadership pledged to honour the legacy of former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, referring to him as "our supreme and dearest martyr," and committed to "maintaining the resistance's flame bright and its banner raised until victory is achieved."

Qassem, who previously served as deputy secretary-general, assumes leadership at a critical time amid ongoing regional tensions and conflict with Israel.

Earlier, bne IntelliNews reported that Qassem had been shuttled to Tehran following the killing of his two superior officers, including Hassan Nasrallah.

In his most recent speech, Qassem outlined a new strategy for the group's interactions with the Israeli military, which he described as "inflicting pain."

The relocation comes amid escalating tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, with the latter intensifying its military campaign against the group in recent weeks.

Dahieh where Qassem was previously based, the suburban region just south of Beirut, stands out like a black hole within the city. On September 23, the Israeli Air Force began ruthlessly bombing the area along with other mostly Shia areas across Lebanon in what they’ve dubbed Operation “Northern Arrows”.

Since the operation began, the Israeli Air Force has killed hundreds of civilians and assassinated several of Hezbollah’s senior military commanders, including the  successive leaders of the group. 

The group is experiencing unprecedented internal turmoil as mass desertions hit the Iran-backed militia, according to recent reports from the Arabic independent newspaper Elaph.

The fleeing of the ranks development follows over a year of aerial exchanges with Israel and comes amid an expanding Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon.

The group's operational capacity has been significantly compromised by mounting casualties, the elimination of key leadership figures, including Nasrallah, and widespread desertion among its ranks. A senior security source familiar with the situation told Elaph: "Many operatives are not responding to summons from leadership and have fled with their families to Syrian territory to avoid direct confrontation with Israeli forces."