Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning on Thursday, emphasizing that those who target Israel will face severe consequences. This statement came after Israel confirmed the deaths of top Hezbollah and Hamas commanders in recent military strikes.
Netanyahu conducted a detailed assessment at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command alongside generals and senior officers following the killings of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas commander Muhammad Deif.
Regarding the heightened state of readiness, Netanyahu stated, 'Israel is prepared for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. We will make sure that any act of aggression against us will result in a significant cost for the perpetrators, regardless of their origin.'
Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, was responsible for a drone attack that tragically claimed the lives of 12 children and teenagers at a soccer field in the Golan Heights. He was serving as a senior advisor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah when he was targeted and killed in a recent IDF operation in southern Beirut.
The IDF confirmed that Deif orchestrated the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, in collaboration with Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader in Gaza. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip. Sinwar is believed to be in hiding in Gaza.
Israel verified that Deif was eliminated in an IDF strike in Gaza on July 13. Netanyahu emphasized the principle of retaliation, stating, 'The elimination of Deif reinforces our commitment: those who harm us will face consequences.'
Tensions in the Middle East escalated further this week following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. While Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for the incident, both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of being behind the assassination.
