“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced –implicitly– the death of Hashem Safieddine, the projected successor of Hezbollah’s late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah – following an airstrike on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs last week.

 

In an English-language video message to Lebanese citizens, Netanyahu claims that the Israeli Occupation has “degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities; we took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of his replacement.”

 

“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for many many years.”

 

“Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice,” he continues.

 

“[You] can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity.”

 

“Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense,” Netanyahu says to the Lebanese people, if they don’t take action against Hezbollah.

 

“Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end,” he further claims.

 

“Free your country from Hezbollah so that your country can prosper again, so that future generations of Lebanese and Israeli children will know neither war nor bloodshed, but will finally live together in peace.”