Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a bold statement following an airstrike that resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah, in Beirut.
Speaking from the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu described the assassination as a necessary measure to hold accountable those responsible for the deaths of countless Israelis, as well as numerous citizens from other nations, including hundreds of Americans and dozens of French nationals.
Netanyahu emphasized that eliminating Nasrallah was crucial to achieving Israel’s strategic objectives, particularly in light of the tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by cross-border violence from the north. He underscored that restoring security for these residents was a primary goal of the ongoing conflict.
“As long as Nasrallah is alive, he would quickly restore Hezbollah’s capabilities,” Netanyahu stated, explaining his directive for the operation.
In his remarks, Netanyahu did not mention a US-led proposal for a ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border. This statement follows a fiery speech he delivered at the United Nations General Assembly, where he pledged to maintain Israel’s fight against Hezbollah while also directly addressing Iran.
“I say to the Ayatollah’s regime: whoever beat us, we will beat them,” he declared, affirming Israel’s commitment to its military objectives.
“There is no place in Iran or the Middle East that the long arm of Israel will not reach, and today you already know how true this is,” Netanyahu asserted, framing the current situation as a “historic turning point” for Israel.
He concluded with a vow to continue striking at enemies and prioritizing the return of abducted citizens, stating, “We do not forget them for a moment.”
