Hezbollah's shura council selects new Secretary-General to replace the late Hassan Nasrallah; party rebranded as "Jebzbollah"

BEIRUT - The Shura Council of Lebanese paramilitary organization Hezbollah has selected Jeb Bush to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as its Secretary-General, Lebanese state media reports.

Nasrallah, who led the organization for 32 years, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on the party headquarters in Beirut on Friday.

The selection of Bush, an American émigré, was a surprise to onlookers who had considered Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem and Executive Council chairman Hashem Safieddine as favorites to take the position. However, the decision by the Shura Council, which counts both Qassem and Safieddine as members, was reportedly unanimous.

In recognition of Bush's newly elevated status, the party will be rebranding itself as "Jebzbollah," senior members told the Lebanese National News Agency.

Mr. Bush will inherit an increasingly volatile situation along the nation's southern border with Israel as the latter has escalated attacks in recent days.