In a video message released on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the country's forces have successfully targeted and eliminated potential successors to the recently deceased Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah .
While he refrained from directly naming them, Netanyahu asserted, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement." The identity of the individual referred to by Netanyahu as the "replacement of the replacement" remains unclear at this time.
Earlier, Yoav Gallant , the Israeli Defence Minister, suggested that Hashem Safieddine , who was widely regarded as the likely successor to Nasrallah, had probably been "eliminated" by Israeli forces. However, the identity of the individual referred to by Netanyahu as the "replacement of the replacement" remains unclear. Gallant made this statement as Israeli ground operations extended into southwest Lebanon.
“Hezbollah is an organization without a head. Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated,” Gallant said during a briefing at Israel 's northern command center. He provided no additional details.
Safieddine, like Nasrallah, is a cleric and has served as the head of Hezbollah's executive council and its military operations body, the Jihad Council.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Qassem , in a televised address, supported efforts for a ceasefire led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, without insisting on a Gaza ceasefire as a pre-condition for halting hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border. Qassem emphasised that Hezbollah's capabilities remained intact despite recent Israeli strikes.
“Dozens of cities are within range of the resistance's missiles. We assure you that our capabilities are fine,” Qassem said. Qassem's speech came 11 days after Nasrallah's death. He indicated that a new secretary general would be elected soon. The situation remains tense, with Hezbollah prepared to continue fighting if diplomacy does not succeed.
While he refrained from directly naming them, Netanyahu asserted, "We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement." The identity of the individual referred to by Netanyahu as the "replacement of the replacement" remains unclear at this time.
This is a message to the people of Lebanon: pic.twitter.com/btMQR0Xwtn
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2024
Earlier, Yoav Gallant , the Israeli Defence Minister, suggested that Hashem Safieddine , who was widely regarded as the likely successor to Nasrallah, had probably been "eliminated" by Israeli forces. However, the identity of the individual referred to by Netanyahu as the "replacement of the replacement" remains unclear. Gallant made this statement as Israeli ground operations extended into southwest Lebanon.
“Hezbollah is an organization without a head. Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated,” Gallant said during a briefing at Israel 's northern command center. He provided no additional details.
Safieddine, like Nasrallah, is a cleric and has served as the head of Hezbollah's executive council and its military operations body, the Jihad Council.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Qassem , in a televised address, supported efforts for a ceasefire led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, without insisting on a Gaza ceasefire as a pre-condition for halting hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border. Qassem emphasised that Hezbollah's capabilities remained intact despite recent Israeli strikes.
“Dozens of cities are within range of the resistance's missiles. We assure you that our capabilities are fine,” Qassem said. Qassem's speech came 11 days after Nasrallah's death. He indicated that a new secretary general would be elected soon. The situation remains tense, with Hezbollah prepared to continue fighting if diplomacy does not succeed.
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