Did Israel assassinate Hashem Safieddine? Netanyahu says IDF killed Hassan Nasrallah's two successors

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said the Israel Defence Forces not only assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, but also his two successors.

Claiming that Israel has degraded Hezbollah's capabilities and eliminated thousands of terrorists, Netanyahu said these include "Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of his replacement." 

He said Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for years. Addressing the citizens of Lebanon, he said, "it is your choice. You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity." He pointed out that if they don't oust Hazbollah from Lebanon, the group will continue to "try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense."

Netanyahu's statement comes after the country's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced the killing of Safieddine. Claiming that Hezbollah is an organisation without a leader, Gallant said, "Nasrallah was eliminated, his replacement was probably also eliminated.”

This comes as Israel vowed to retaliate against Iran after Tehran launched massive missile attack against Tel Aviv. However, US President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to hit Iran's nuclear programme or its oil industry.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah on Wednesday targeted Israeli soldiers near the Lebanese village of Labbouneh.