Netanyahu threatens Lebanese: Free yourselves from Hezbollah or face a Gaza-like scenario

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday threatened the Lebanese people with "destruction" like in the Gaza Strip "if they do not free their country from Hezbollah," as Israel expands its ground offensive against the movement in southern Lebanon.

On the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israeli territory, Netanyahu on Monday promised to continue the fight until victory against Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas, both backed by Iran.

"Free your country from Hezbollah," he said in a video message in English addressed to the Lebanese people on Tuesday, threatening that otherwise Lebanon would experience "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza," where the Israeli army has been conducting an offensive for a year that has left tens of thousands dead.

- We have eliminated (Hassan) Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah killed on September 27 in an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, as well as his successor and his successor's successor," Netanyahu added.

His Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated shortly before that Hezbollah is a "broken organization," following intense Israeli strikes.

This is a message to the people of Lebanon: pic.twitter.com/btMQR0Xwtn

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2024

- Hezbollah is a headless organization. Nasrallah has been eliminated, his replacement has likely also been eliminated - Gallant told officers at the northern command center.

Despite the blows dealt to Hezbollah and Hamas, whose leader was also killed, both movements continue to fire rockets at Israel, which borders the Gaza Strip to the south and Lebanon to the north.

The Israeli army announced that the 146th Division on Monday began "limited and localized operations against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon," along the Mediterranean coast.

This division is the fourth that Israel has deployed since the start of its ground offensive in southern Lebanon on September 30.

At the same time, Israel is conducting airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut, three Hezbollah strongholds.

The movement has claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on military facilities, as well as the city of Haifa in northern Israel. According to Israeli military data, about 85 projectiles were fired. Most of the rockets were intercepted by the Israeli army.

Hezbollah also claims to have repelled Israeli soldiers who "infiltrated" southern Lebanon near UNIFIL positions, the UN peacekeeping force.