After elimination of terror chief, Netanyahu vows ‘Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild’

He urged Lebanon’s government to enforce its obligations regarding the group’s disarmament, arguing that doing so would benefit civilians on both sides of the border.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah chief Haytham Ali Tabataba’i is proof that the Jewish state will not allow the terror group on its northern border to rebuild its infrastructure.

Netanyahu opened his remarks by confirming that the IDF had killed Hezbollah’s military chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabataba’i, describing him as a central planner of attacks on Israelis and Americans.

“A few hours ago, the IDF eliminated Haytham Ali Tabataba’i, the chief of staff of the Hezbollah terror organization,” he said, calling him “a mass murderer” whose record prompted Washington to offer a multimillion-dollar reward.

Tabataba’i, he noted, held a senior role in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, the unit that “planned to conquer the Galilee and slaughter many of our citizens.”

He said the commander had recently been directing Hezbollah’s attempt to rebuild its weapons infrastructure after the damage inflicted during Israel’s recent operations in Lebanon.

Netanyahu credited Israeli forces with carrying out “a professional, precise, and successful operation today,” saying the strike followed months of pressure on Hezbollah’s arsenals and leadership.

Outlining the government’s strategy in the north, Netanyahu said Israel would remain firm against any Hezbollah efforts to regain its strength.

“The policy I am leading is absolutely clear: Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power, and we will not allow it to pose a threat to the State of Israel again,” he said.

He urged Lebanon’s government to enforce its obligations regarding the group’s disarmament, arguing that doing so would benefit civilians on both sides of the border.

“Only in this way can a better future be made possible for every citizen in Lebanon,” he said, and only then could secure relations be established.

Netanyahu also used the statement to praise President Donald Trump for designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. He said the group “endangers stability throughout the Middle East and also beyond,” adding that Israel already bans part of the organization and aims to expand that designation soon.