Israel’s new defense minister says country has defeated Hezbollah
Israel’s newly appointed minister of defense, Israel Katz, made a bold statement on Sunday, declaring that his country has successfully defeated Hezbollah. He emphasized that the elimination of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was a significant milestone in this victory. Nasrallah met his demise in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27, when the Israel Defense Forces targeted the Iran-backed group’s headquarters in southern Beirut.
This achievement was further solidified when Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to assume leadership of Hezbollah after Nasrallah, was also eliminated by the Israeli military last month. Minister Katz expressed the importance of continuing to apply pressure to ensure that the fruits of this victory are realized.
During a ceremony at Israel’s foreign ministry, Katz stated that Israel has no intention of interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs, as they have learned from past experiences. He expressed hope that an international coalition would seize this opportunity to foster political advancements, and that Lebanon would follow the lead of other nations in normalizing relations with Israel.
In a surprising turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, only to announce shortly afterward that Katz would be assuming the role. This decision comes at a critical time for Israel, as they are engaged in conflicts with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and facing off against Iran.
Gallant later revealed that his disagreements with Netanyahu on various issues, such as military conscription, hostage situations, and intelligence failures, led to his dismissal. Israeli forces continued their offensive against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, launching airstrikes on the same neighborhood where Safieddine was killed.
Hezbollah retaliated by launching rockets into northern Israel and claiming responsibility for a drone attack on Netanyahu’s residence. The tensions between the two sides remain high, with both parties showing no signs of backing down.
As the situation unfolds, it is clear that Israel is determined to maintain its position of strength and security in the region. The ongoing conflict with Hezbollah and other hostile entities underscores the challenges that Israel faces in ensuring its safety and sovereignty.
This article was written by Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. For story tips and suggestions, you can reach out to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com or connect with him on Twitter @GregWehner.
