Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Hezbollah’s intended replacement for former leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed late last month, has also been “taken out.”
“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for many, many years,” Netanyahu stated in a message directed at the “people of Lebanon.” He emphasized that Israel has significantly diminished Hezbollah’s capabilities, eliminating thousands of fighters, including Nasrallah and subsequent replacements.
Netanyahu accused Iran of “conquering” Lebanon to turn Hezbollah into a proxy force for Tehran’s interests, transforming the country into a “stockpile of ammunition and weapons” and a pseudo “Iranian military base” on Israel’s border.
Addressing the Lebanese people, Netanyahu said they stand at a “significant crossroads” and encouraged them to reclaim their country and pursue “peace and prosperity.” He warned that if Hezbollah continued its attacks from densely populated areas, Lebanon would suffer the consequences.
While Netanyahu did not outline conditions for ending Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, earlier statements from Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, indicated a possible openness to a ceasefire that excludes Gaza from negotiations.
