JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel had 鈥渟ettled the score鈥� with the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike in Beirut.
鈥淲e settled the score with the one responsible for the murder of countless Israelis and many citizens of other countries, including hundreds of Americans and dozens of French,鈥� he said in his first statement since Nasrallah鈥檚 death on Friday.
He was alluding to 1983 bombings in Beirut that killed 63 people at the US embassy and 241 US marines and 58 French paratroopers at their barracks.
Netanyahu said that as long as 鈥渢errorist鈥� Nasrallah was alive, he 鈥渨ould quickly restore the capabilities we had eroded from Hezbollah鈥� in a series of recent operations.
鈥淪o, I gave the order 鈥� and Nasrallah is no longer with us.鈥�
The Israeli premier said his country was on the cusp of 鈥渨hat appears to be a historic turning point鈥� in the fight against its 鈥渆nemies.鈥�
According to Netanyahu, who has faced growing criticism at home and abroad over his war policy after nearly a year of fighting in the Gaza Strip, the killing of the Hezbollah leader was essential for achieving Israel鈥檚 goals.
鈥淣asrallah鈥檚 elimination is a necessary condition for achieving the goals we set: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes and the long-term alteration of the balance of power in the region,鈥� he said.
It will also help facilitate the return of hostages seized by Hamas during its October 7 attack and still held in Gaza, he said.
鈥淭he more (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar sees that Hezbollah will no longer come to his aid, the greater the chances of returning our captives,鈥� Netanyahu said.
鈥淲e are winning. We are determined to continue striking our enemies, returning our residents to their homes and bringing back all our hostages. We do not forget them for a moment.鈥�