Netanyahu Takes Credit For Assassination Of Terrorist Commander: ‘Challenging Days Ahead’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took credit for the assassination of a top Hezbollah advisor during a press conference on Wednesday.

Netanyahu said Israel faces “challenging days ahead” but will “charge a very heavy price for any aggression from any arena.” On Tuesday, an Israeli air strike successfully targeted Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin. Israel launched the strike after 12 Druze children were killed by a Hezbollah missile in the northern Israel town of Majdal Shams. Around 40 additional people were wounded.

Netanyahu did not directly take credit for the Wednesday assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, but did state that Israel delivered “crushing blows” on three Iranian proxies: Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Netanyahu’s office reportedly declined to comment on their role in Haniyeh’s demise. Israel often does not comment on targeted killings. He did comment on the recent strike of Yemen’s Hodeida port after the Houthis sent a suicide drone to Tel Aviv.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, vowed to have revenge and inflict “severe punishment” for the Hamas leader being killed in Iran.

Netanyahu said “threats are being sounded from everywhere” following the assassination of Shukr but said the Jewish state is “ready for every scenario” and “will stay united and determined against every threat.”

“We settled our score with [Hajj] Mohsin,” Netanyahu said “and we will settle our score with anyone who harms us. Everyone who takes aim at our children, everyone who murders our citizens, everyone who harms our country—their blood is on their own head.”

He also pointed out that Shukr played a central role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. military personnel. The U.S. government has offered a  $5,000,000 reward for anyone who provides information on him.

Netanyahu added that he will not give into domestic and foreign pressure to end the war because “all of the achievements in recent months were attained because we did not give in.” 

“Together we will fight, and with God’s help, together we will win,” he concluded.

The Biden-Harris administration has reportedly sought to restrain Israel’s response to prevent further escalating the ongoing conflict between the Jewish state and Hezbollah.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States government does not want to see the conflict “escalate” or spread.”

Hezbollah has attacked Israel with missiles or drones nearly every day since October 7. Israel has responded by striking Hezbollah military infrastructure, commanders, and launch sites.

About 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes in northern Israel since the hostilities began