There are short-term jobs, and then there are really short-term jobs. It would seem that being the leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah falls into the latter category.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that the Israel Defense Forces eliminated the replacement of former Hezbollah boss Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in late September, as well as another possible successor to the top job.
Netanyahu appeared on television to speak directly to the Lebanese people:
“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for many, many years,” Netanyahu said in a message tailored directly to the “people of Lebanon.”
“We’ve degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities, we took out thousands of terrorists, including [former Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of his replacement.”
Watch:
This is a message to the people of Lebanon: pic.twitter.com/btMQR0Xwtn
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2024
Background: Netanyahu Vows Victory Against Hamas, Hezbollah on Anniversary of Oct. 7
Newly Released Footage Depicts IDF Destroying Hezbollah Strongholds, Weapon Caches
CONFIRMED: Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah Killed in Beirut Strike
Huge hole that was created after Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Hashem Safieddine, potential successor to the late leader Hassan Nasrallah, on October 4. pic.twitter.com/7U0OLAAUjI
— DarkEye News (@darkeyenews) October 5, 2024
Netanyahu asked if the residents of Lebanon remembered when the country was called “the pearl of the Middle East.”
“I do,” he continued. What happened? Iran and Hezbollah happened, he explained:
Netanyahu said Iran has “conquered” Lebanon to ensure Hezbollah serves Tehran’s interests in the region by turning it into a “stockpile of ammunition and weapons” serving as a pseudo “Iranian military base” on Israel’s border.
“Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice,” he continued. “You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity.”
“If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense,” the prime minister added. “Free your country from Hezbollah.”
It’s unknown who the second possible replacement was:
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hashem Safieddine, the man expected to succeed Nasrallah, had probably been “eliminated”. It was not immediately clear whom Netanyahu meant by the “replacement of the replacement”.
Safieddine had been on the Israeli military’s radar for some time:
Though Safieddine was not as well-known as Nasrallah, who served as the leader of Hezbollah for more than 30 years, his close ties to Iran and his outspoken behavior following the Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7,2023 cemented him as a top target of Jerusalem’s.
It is not clear how or where Safieddine was allegedly killed, though the announcement of his death followed an update provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which said “hundreds of terrorists” had been “eliminated” since the 98th Brigade first entered Lebanon last week.
As my colleague Jeff Charles reported earlier, Hezbollah may realize they’ve met their match:
Have They Had Enough? Hezbollah Endorses Ceasefire Efforts After Israel Pummels Them
The lesson is, if you’re looking for a long-term job, it’s probably best not to apply for a position as an Israel-hating terrorist.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“We eliminated Nasrallah’s successor and his successor’s successor.”
He officially confirmed that Hezbollah’s new leader, Hashem Safieddine, has been eliminated. pic.twitter.com/f6vGpwctOE
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) October 8, 2024
