Netanyahu Claims Responsibility for Hezbollah Leader Assassination

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly taken credit for the assassination of a high-ranking Hezbollah advisor, Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, in a bold statement during a press conference on Wednesday. This decisive move follows a tragic attack by Hezbollah, which resulted in the death of 12 Druze children in the northern Israeli town of Majdal Shams, along with 40 others wounded.

Netanyahu cautioned of "challenging days ahead" and emphasized that Israel will "charge a very heavy price for any aggression from any arena.” While Netanyahu did not explicitly claim responsibility for the subsequent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, he noted that Israel has delivered “crushing blows” to three Iranian proxies: Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah. However, Netanyahu’s office has chosen not to comment on the specifics of Haniyeh's killing, maintaining a standard policy of silence on targeted assassinations.

The recent strike on Yemen's Hodeida port further escalated tensions, following a Houthi-launched suicide drone attack on Tel Aviv. In response, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed revenge, threatening “severe punishment” for the killing of the Hamas leader on Iranian soil.

Despite these threats, Netanyahu remained resolute, stating that Israel is “ready for every scenario” and will remain “united and determined against every threat.” He underscored that those who harm Israel “will settle their score” and “their blood is on their own head.”

Fuad Shukr's elimination marks a significant blow to Hezbollah, as he was a pivotal figure in orchestrating attacks against Israel. Netanyahu highlighted Shukr's involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. military personnel. The U.S. government had previously offered a $5,000,000 reward for information leading to Shukr.

Netanyahu firmly asserted his refusal to succumb to both domestic and international pressures to end military operations against Hezbollah, emphasizing that recent achievements were possible because “we did not give in.” He concluded with a rallying cry: “Together we will fight, and with God’s help, together we will win.”

Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration has reportedly sought to restrain Israel’s response to avoid further escalating the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that the United States does not wish to see the conflict “escalate” or spread further.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have been intensifying since October 7, with near-daily missile and drone attacks by Hezbollah, prompting Israel to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and key figures. This ongoing conflict has forced the evacuation of approximately 80,000 Israelis from their homes in northern Israel, reflecting the heightened state of alert and readiness in the region.

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