Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday warned the people of Lebanon they could face "destruction and suffering" like the Palestinians in war-battered Gaza if they don't "free" the country from Hezbollah.
Netanyahu confirmed the death of the anticipated new Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine, who was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last Thursday, and claimed that Israel had also killed Safieddine’s replacement, without revealing his identity.
In an English-language video addressed to the Lebanese public, Netanyahu said that Israel has “degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of his replacement.”
“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for many many years,” the premier said, urging the public to take the country back from Hezbollah’s control.
“Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice,” he continued, arguing, “Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense.”
“You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity… you deserve a Lebanon that is different,” he added.
“One Country, one Flag, one People,” he said, quoting the phrase from the original United States Pledge of Allegiance. “Don’t let these terrorists destroy your future any more than they’ve already done.”
Netanyahu further urged the Lebanese to “free your country from Hezbollah so that your country can prosper again, so that future generations of Lebanese and Israeli children will know neither war nor bloodshed, but will finally live together in peace.”
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