Updated 10:20 AM (PST) September 28, 2024
In a blistering speech on Friday, September 27, at the United Nations (U.N.), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hezbollah, the “quintessential terror organization in the world. . . with tentacles that span all continents” (Times of Israel). Then Netanyahu declared,
In the last year, completely unprovoked, a day after the Hamas massacre on October 7th, Hezbollah began attacks against Israel, which forced more than 60,000 Israelis on our northern border to leave their homes, becoming refugees in their own land. Hezbollah turned vibrant towns in the north of Israel into ghost towns. So I want you to think about this in equivalent American terms. Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns.
Then ask yourself: How long would the American government tolerate that? A day, a week, a month? I doubt they would tolerate it even for a single day. Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say enough is enough.
We won’t rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes. We will not accept a terror army perched on our northern border, able to perpetuate another October 7th-style massacre. . . . As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has not choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
Just this week, the IDF destroyed large percentages of Hezbollah’s rockets, which were built with Iran’s funding for three decades. We took out senior military commanders who not only shed Israeli blood but American and French blood as well.And then we took out their replacements. And then the replacements of the replacements. And we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met (Times of Israel).
Netanyahu meant what he said.
Prior to his U.N. speech, Breitbart reports that Netanyahu approved the largest airstrike against Hezbollah since October 8, 2023, one that targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The attack was codenamed, “New Order” (JNS).
Telegraph reports that Netanyahu left Israel for New York to “trick” Hezbollah’s leader into thinking he was safe, a senior Israeli official told The Telegraph. “Mr. Netanyahu’s address to the UN was part of a ‘diversionary plan’ intended to make Hassan Nasrallah believe Israel would not take drastic action with the prime minister out of the country. . . Nasrallah was believed to be watching Mr Netanyahu’s speech ‘and was then attacked by Israeli Air Force planes’, the official said.” “Netanyahu approved the strike before delivering his speech at the UN,” the official added. He went on to say that the Israeli assessment was that Nasrallah was in the building at the time of the strike.
Earlier today, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirmed Nasrallah’s death (JNS). A short time later, Hezbollah confirmed that Nasrallah was killed by the Israeli strike. Reuters reports, “The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel ‘in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people.”
The JNS reports “The deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in the Israel Defense Forces strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, according to Iranian media. Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan commanded Tehran’s Quds Force in Lebanon and oversaw the IRGC’s Operations Command.”
The Jerusalem Post reports that Nasrallah’s daughter, Zainab Nasrallah, may have been killed in the Beirut strike.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari delivered the following message in English after the strike:
Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization – that served as the epicenter of Hezbollah’s terror.
Hezbollah’s central headquarters was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh, in Beirut, as part of Hezbollah’s strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields.
On October 8th, Hezbollah started attacking Israel.
After almost a year of Hezbollah firing rockets, missiles, and suicide drones at Israeli civilians, after almost a year of Israel warning the world and telling them that Hezbollah must be stopped, Israel is doing what every sovereign state in the world would do if they had a terror organization that seeks their destruction on their border, taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely (X.com).
The Associated Press reports “News of the blasts. . . came as Netanyahu was briefing reporters traveling with him. A military aide whispered into his ear, and Netanyahu quickly ended the briefing.”
It is also reported that Netanyahu returned to Israel and did not wait until the end of the Sabbath on Saturday evening. Typically, Israeli politicians do not travel on the Sabbath unless there is a matter of grave importance.
There are conflicting reports regarding Israel’s notification of the United States about the strike. Axios reports, “An Israeli official said Israel notified the U.S. minutes before the strike in Beirut, but two senior U.S. officials denied that, telling Axios they had no prior warning.” President Biden told reporters the U.S. had “no knowledge of or participation in” the IDF attack.
Earlier this week, the U.S. and France had been pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu was criticized for sending mixed messages about Israel’s willingness to discuss a ceasefire.
But yesterday’s strike sent a clear message to Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the rest of the world. In fact, Iran should pay close attention to what Netanyahu said at the U.N. because he had a specific message for that “evil regime” as well.
For too long, the world has appeased Iran. It turned a blind eye to its internal repression. It turned a blind eye to its external aggression. Well, that appeasement must end. And that appeasement must end now.
Nations of the world should support the brave people of Iran who want to rid themselves of this evil regime. Responsible governments should not only support Israel in rolling back Iran’s aggression, but they should join Israel. They should join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
In this body and the Security Council, we’re going to have a deliberation in a few months. And I call on the Security Council to snap back UN Security Council sanctions against Iran because we must all do everything in our power to ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons. For decades, I’ve been warning the world against Iran’s nuclear program. Our actions delayed this program by perhaps a decade, but we haven’t stopped it. We’ve delayed it, but we haven’t stopped it. Iran now seeks to weaponize its nuclear program. For the sake of the peace and security of all your countries.
For the sake of the peace and security of the entire world, we must not let that happen. And I assure you, Israel will do everything in its power to make sure it doesn’t happen (Times of Israel).
After convening a security council meeting, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel for Nasrallah’s assassination while hiding in a secured location. Khamenei declared, “(Nasrallah) was not an individual. He was a path and a school of thought and the path will be continued. . . The blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged” (Reuters).
Israel wants peace. But, as Netanyahu promised, Israel is “committed to removing the curse of terrorism that threatens all civilized societies” (Times of Israel).
Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring this developing story. Please pray for Israel and her people at this critical time.
by Dr. Matthew Dodd | September 28, 2024