Israel’s recent escalation of its conflict with Hezbollah has led to significant upheaval within the group's leadership following the death of its long-time head Hassan Nasrallah.

As tensions continue to mount in the region, doubts surround the roles of key figures in the organisation.

The Iran-backed terrorist group was thrown into crisis when a major Israeli airstrike on an underground bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs resulted in the death of Nasrallah and over 20 other Hezbollah operatives, including high-ranking officials that included Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front.

The airstrike came amid a week of intensified military actions by Israel intended to remove the threat of Hezbollah which has led to the displacement of some 60,000 Israelis from their homes in the north of the country.

Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah and a designated terrorist by the US State Department since 2017, emerged as his successor.

As head of Hezbollah's executive council, Safieddine oversees the group’s political affairs and is a member of the Jihad Council, which manages military operations.

But media reports citing a Lebanese security official on Saturday have indicated that the new leader has as been out of contact since Friday after a targeted strike by Israel.

In addition to uncertainty over Safieddine’s presence, deputy leader since 1991 Naim Qassem has reportedly resigned from his position.

During a recorded speech following Nasrallah's death last week, Qassem appeared visibly distressed and uncomfortable, leading to speculation about his future involvement with the group.

His resignation would mark a significant shift in Hezbollah's hierarchy as Qassem has been a stalwart of the organisation for decades.

With Israeli ground forces crossing into southern Lebanon last week, the situation remains extremely volatile.