On Tuesday, the Hezbollah’s resistance group announced that it had appointed Naim Qassem as its new chief. Qassem, previously the deputy head, will now lead Hezbollah following the death of Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb over a month ago.

According to Hezbollah’s statement, its Shura Council elected Qassem, 71, which aligns with their procedure for selecting a secretary-general.

Qassem was originally appointed deputy chief by Hezbollah’s then-leader, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1991. He maintained his role when Nasrallah became the leader and has since represented Hezbollah in various media appearances, including during cross-border conflicts with Israel over the past year.

Following Nasrallah’s death on Sept. 27, Qassem delivered three televised speeches, including one on Oct. 8, where he expressed Hezbollah’s support for a potential ceasefire in Lebanon.