Israel's newly appointed defense minister said on Sunday that his country had defeated Hezbollah, and that the elimination of the leader of the terrorist organization in Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah, was a great success.
Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27 when the Israel Defense Forces attacked the headquarters of an Iran-backed group south of Beirut.
At the end of last month, the Israeli army also claimed to have eliminated Hashem Safieddine, who was expected to take control of Hezbollah after the assassination of Nasrallah.
“Now it is our duty to continue to apply pressure to bring the fruits of that victory,” said Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday during an event at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
HEZBOLLAH CONFIRMS DEATH OF SUPREME COMMANDER IN RUN TO TAKE HASSAN NASRALLAH
Israel Katz (Reuters/Florion Goga/File)
Katz added that Israel is not interested in meddling in Lebanon's internal politics as Israel has “learned our lessons.” He also said that he hopes that the international coalition will use this opportunity, politically, and that Lebanon will join other countries in establishing normal relations with Israel.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, before announcing that Katz would replace Gallant.
The move comes as Israel is embroiled in a series of crises, fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and a long-running spat with Iran.
ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FIRES DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT
IDF soldiers are fighting Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
In recent comments to the media, Gallant said he and Netanyahu disagreed on three issues: the conscription of Haredi men into the army; finding hostages at home; federal commission of inquiry into intelligence failures before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas.
The Israeli military began airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday, and also raided the area where Safieddine was killed last month.
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Hezbollah also launched multiple rockets into northern Israel and claimed credit for a drone attack that damaged Netanyahu's home.
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and Reuters contributed to this report.
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