JERUSALEM (Diya TV) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israeli forces have assassinated key successors to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was just killed in a strike on Beirut. In a taped message, Netanyahu said the replacement for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his successor’s successor had been killed, but no names were mentioned.
Netanyahu used the declaration to send a message to the people of Lebanon, urging them to free their country from Hezbollah control, arguing that the group is weakening and becoming a liability to the stability of the country.
Israeli officials pointed to on-going efforts to weaken Hezbollah military capabilities. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ventured that one of those killed could be Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to inherit Nasrallah’s mantle.
This is happening as Israel and Lebanon’s border heats up, with Hezbollah firing rockets in what appears to be retaliation for Israeli strikes on Gaza. Hezbollah has been an older force in Lebanon’s political and military arena, backed by Iran and deeply involved in a centuries-long rivalry with Israel. As the conflict flared, Israel has pursued targeted airstrikes directed at Hezbollah’s leadership infrastructure.
Lebanon is increasingly getting caught in the middle of the Israel-Gaza conflict, where hundreds of casualties have been recorded. Speaking at a rally and in his message, Netanyahu was stressing the presence of Hezbollah is jeopardizing the lives of Lebanese civilians while reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself against cross-border attacks.
This is significant in that the Israeli government demanded of the international community to lean on Hezbollah to cease hostilities, but in the words of Netanyahu, there exists a further Israeli strategy of targeted elimination that will weaken its adversaries in Lebanon.
The military of Israel has continued keeping their highest alert level along the northern border as Hezbollah readies to rack up more casualties on the region due to the heavy blow it has recently received through the elimination of its leaders. As such, there is no statement from the Lebanese government on these developments as the situation continues to deteriorate.
A message from Netanyahu unequivocally directed to both Hezbollah and the people of Lebanon is that what Israel does now must happen for the sake of both the security of Israel and the future stability of Lebanon.