Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation on Wednesday night following successful airstrikes against terrorist leaders in Beirut, Lebanon, and Tehran, Iran.
Israel killed Hezbollah deputy commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, Breitbart News reported.
Notably, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not directly blame Israel for the latter attack.
Dear people of Israel, good evening.
From the start of this war, I have made it clear that we are fighting an Iranian axis of evil. This is an existential war against the terrorist army and missile stranglehold that Iran is trying to put around our necks.
In a speech to Congress a few days ago, I identified the three major players in this axis of evil as Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah — the three “H’s.” We recently dealt devastating blows to all three.
Three weeks ago we hit Hamas Chief of Staff, Mohammed Deif. Two weeks ago we hit the Houthis in one of the longest-range air strikes, and yesterday we hit Hezbollah Chief of Staff, Fuad Shukr, alias Mohsin.
On behalf of the Israeli people, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the IDF, the ISA, the IDF Intelligence, the Air Force and all security services for their precision operations on three different fronts.
With yesterday’s strike, we eliminated Nasrallah’s top lieutenant. Mohsin is directly responsible for the massacre of our beloved boys and girls in Majdal Shams. He is responsible for the murder of so many other Israeli citizens. He is responsible for the relentless attacks against our people in northern communities during the nine-month long war.
He was one of the most wanted terrorists in the world. The US had a $5 million bounty on his head, and for good reason: he was involved in the massacre in Beirut in 1983 that killed 241 US and 58 French soldiers. He was the liaison between Iran and Hezbollah, and in charge of the group’s missiles.
A few days ago, when I visited the horrific massacre site of Majdal Shams and saw the deep grief of families whose worlds had been destroyed around them, I said to my Druze brothers and sisters, “We are brothers. There is a covenant of life between us, and in these days of bereavement and mourning, that covenant has deepened.”
The murder of innocent children adds to the endless suffering of our beloved northerners, who have been forced to flee their homes and whose communities are under severe attack. We will not remain silent about this.
We have made a deal with Mohsin, we will make a deal with all those who attack us. Those who slaughter our children, those who murder our citizens, those who attack our country will pay the price.
Fellow Israeli people, difficult days lie ahead. Since the attack in Beirut, we have been receiving threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario and will stand united and resolute against any threat. Israel will impose a very heavy price for any attack against us from any side.
My fellow Israelis, when the war began, I said, and I say it again today, that war takes time and requires patience.
For months, not a week went by without people calling for an end to the war, at home and abroad, because everything that could be accomplished had been exhausted and, in any case, it was “unwinnable.”
If we had succumbed to this pressure, we would not have been able to eliminate Hamas’s top brass and thousands of terrorists. We would not have destroyed the terrorist infrastructure and Hamas’ vast underground infrastructure; they would have kept it intact. We would not have seized the Philadelphia Corridor and the Rafah checkpoint, which are the lifelines for Hamas to arm and rebuild. And we would not have been able to create the conditions that would have brought us closer to our war objectives, which include the return of the hostages. The conditions would have allowed us to achieve our war objectives: the return of all hostages, the elimination of Hamas’ military and governing power, ensuring that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, and the safe return of the people of both the North and South to their homes.
All the achievements we have made in recent months were only possible because we refused to give in and made the courageous decision, despite enormous pressure both at home and abroad. I will be clear with you: this has not been easy. I had to reject enormous pressure. But above all, we have achieved this because the warriors of the IDF, the police, the Israeli intelligence service, the Mossad, reservists and conscripts, refused to give in. They are fighting like lions. They are determined to win. And I stand with them, together with the people of Israel, with great love and great faith in the righteousness of our cause.
We will never forget for a moment the families who have lost loved ones, the families of the hostages who desperately want their loved ones back, and the injured who are fighting bravely to rebuild their lives.
We thank them and the people of Israel, and together we will fight and, with God’s help, prevail.
Iran’s so-called “Supreme Leader”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly called for direct attacks on Israel in retaliation.
