Israel settled the account with a mass murderer responsible for the killing of countless Israelis and many American and French citizens, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his first public statement on Saturday after the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in strikes on Lebanon’s Beirut.
After returning from his trip to the United Nations in New York, the Israeli PM termed Nasrallah’s killing as a ‘historic turning point’. He further said, “If someone rises to kill you, kill him first,” indicating Israel’s widened response to Lebanon in the recent escalation.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Saturday it had “eliminated” Nasrallah after striking Hezbollah’s central command in the Lebanese capital, where the 64-year-old was reportedly holed up in a bunker. Netanyahu said that Nasrallah’s death was a “necessary condition” to achieve Israel’s war goals.
“Citizens of Israel, these are momentous days. We are at what will be seen as a historic turning point. One year ago, on October 7, our enemies attacked us and thought that Israel was on the road to being wiped out. One year later, blow after blow, achievement after achievement, they understand how their hopes have dissipated. Israel has momentum; we are winning,” Netanyahu said.
He further remarked that Nasrallah was not just another terrorist, ‘he was the terrorist’ responsible for the killing of Israelis and many nationals from other countries.
“Nasrallah’s killing was a necessary step toward achieving the goals we have set, returning residents of the north safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years to come,” he added.
‘I Gave The Directive’: Netanyahu
The Israeli Prime Minister said that he gave the order for the attack that targeted Hassan Nasrallah, given that with Nasrallah’s presence in the Middle East, he would have rebuilt the capabilities Israel took from Hezbollah.
“Therefore, I gave the directive – and Nasrallah is no longer with us. His elimination advances the return of our residents to their homes in the north. It also advances the return of our hostages in the south,” he said.
Netanyahu added that Nasrallah was the central engine of Iran’s axis of evil. “He and his people were the architects of the plan to destroy Israel. He was not only operated by Iran, he also frequently operated Iran,” he remarked.
Israel is determined to continue striking its enemies, he added.
Israel Bombards Beirut
The strikes that killed Nasrallah on Friday targeted a densely populated area and destroyed residential buildings. Israel carried out more strikes Saturday on what it says are Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, killing at least 33 people and wounding 195, according to the country’s health ministry.
In a post on X, the IDF wrote, “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world.” US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have backed Israel in the killing of Nasrallah, stating that justice had been done for many victims of the Hezbollah.
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