Netanyahu- Hezbollah leader’s successor has been killed_1

On October 9th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation via video, announcing that Israel had successfully targeted and eliminated the successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, he did not reveal the name of this successor.

In his remarks, reported by the Times of Israel, Netanyahu claimed that Israel has significantly undermined Hezbollah’s capabilities, stating that not only Nasrallah but also his successor, and even the successor’s successor, have been taken out. He emphasized that Hezbollah is currently in a weaker position than it has been in years.

International media reports suggest that Netanyahu’s comments may refer to the killing of Hashim Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah official. He was reportedly targeted during an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 4th. Safieddine, considered a likely heir of Nasrallah and his cousin, chairs Hezbollah’s political affairs committee. Following the attack, it was reported that Safieddine was missing, although Hezbollah has yet to confirm his death.

On the same night, Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus remarked that Israel had previously struck Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut, aware that Safieddine was present. He accused Hezbollah of trying to obscure the details of the strike and added that the investigation into its aftermath is ongoing.

In related developments, Axios reported that U.S. President Joe Biden is set to have a crucial phone call with Netanyahu on the morning of October 9th. The discussion is expected to focus on Israel’s strategies against Iran, marking the first conversation between the two leaders in nearly two months.

U.S. officials have indicated that Biden’s goal is to clarify the extent of Israel’s planned retaliation against Iran. While the U.S. supports Israel’s actions against key targets within Iran, there is hope that the response will not be excessively aggressive.

Additionally, reports indicate that Netanyahu engaged in extensive discussions with senior Israeli officials on the evening of October 8th to plan for the timing and scope of potential strikes against Iran. This follows a missile launch from Iran on October 1st, which was in response to recent Israeli actions. On that very day, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued a warning, stating that “any attack on Iranian infrastructure will result in a stronger retaliation.”

Moreover, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has raised concerns about two bills currently under review by Israel’s Knesset, which could impede the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza and the West Bank. Guterres directly communicated his concerns to Netanyahu, arguing that if passed, the bills would contradict the U.N. Charter and Israel’s international obligations. From a political viewpoint, he believes the bills could severely undermine sustainable peace efforts and the two-state solution, leading to greater instability.

On October 6th, the Israeli Knesset debated the proposed bills, which would bar UNRWA from operating facilities or providing services in Israel and restrict government officials from interacting with the agency, effectively denying UNRWA staff the special rights and protections granted to other U.N. personnel within Israel.