Conflict between Lebanon and Israel intensifies, Israel says it has killed two successors of Lebanese Hezbollah

In an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, recent reports reveal that on October 8, Hezbollah fired nearly 180 rockets into Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli military has targeted and killed two individuals who were seen as successors to Hezbollah’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah maintains that its leadership is still actively directing the fight, claiming to have conducted a staggering 3,194 operations against Israel in the past year.

During a video conference, Netanyahu stated, “We have weakened Hezbollah’s capabilities. We have eliminated thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah and his successors.” However, he did not disclose the names of these successors, leaving the identity of the “successor of the successor” unknown.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had previously suggested that a key Hezbollah figure, Hashim Safieddine, who was anticipated to take over from Nasrallah, has likely been “eliminated.”

In response, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, issued a video statement asserting that the group’s leadership continues to effectively command its operations. He emphasized that every fallen commander has a successor, insisting that “no position is vacant” within Hezbollah. Qassem also indicated that the group stands ready to appoint and announce new leadership if needed.

Qassem acknowledged the mediation efforts by Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, aimed at reaching a ceasefire. He expressed that Hezbollah would welcome discussions through diplomatic channels if a formal agreement can be achieved. However, he did not comment specifically on the recent escalation in Gaza.

Declaring a resolute position, Qassem stated, “If the enemy continues to fire, then we will meet on the battlefield.” He maintained that Hezbollah’s military capabilities remain robust, claiming that they have successfully thwarted Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah reported on the same day that they have executed over 3,000 operations against Israel in the past year, leading to the evacuation of residents from 100 Jewish settlements and displacing more than 300,000 Israelis.

As tensions escalate, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, cautioning that attacks—particularly those against civilians—pose a significant threat to regional stability. He noted that the death toll in Lebanon has already surpassed that seen during the 2006 Lebanon-Israel conflict.

Guterres warned, “We are on the brink of a full-scale war in Lebanon, with severe repercussions already unfolding, but there is still time to halt the fighting. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations must be upheld.”

In related developments, the Syrian government reported an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of seven civilians, including women and children, and injuring eleven others. This strike reportedly occurred near the Iranian embassy in Syria.

Following the airstrike, Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s actions, calling for “immediate measures” to prevent the country from dragging the region into “disastrous confrontations.”