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Netanyahu Says Israel 'Striking Enemies' as Attack Expected

Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
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Netanyahu Says Israel 'Striking Enemies' as Attack Expected

Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)
Israel's incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (EPA)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was hitting its enemies and "continuing forward to victory" on Wednesday as the country braced for an expected attack by Iran and its proxies.

Israel was "determined to defend" itself following threats of retaliation after its killing of a top Hezbollah commander and following the death of Hamas's former chief Ismail Haniyeh.

"We are continuing forward to victory," the premier told new recruits at the Tel Hashomer military induction in Tel Aviv, AFP reported.

"I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: be patient and level-headed.

"We are prepared both defensively and offensively. We are striking our enemies and are determined to defend ourselves."

Israel claimed the killing of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last week. It has not commented on the death of Haniyeh in Tehran.

However, both Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for Haniyeh's assassination and, along with Iran-linked Lebanese group Hezbollah, threatened reprisals.

Separately, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told reporters, "This country is able to defend itself, and of course, both in ways which our enemies have seen, but also in ways they have not seen."

He added: "We know how to deal with this Iranian menace... together with our allies, we are able to stand up to them."

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In Lebanon, Life on Hold Four Times Amid Conflict

A billboard in a Beirut street features images of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr, and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force (Reuters)
A billboard in a Beirut street features images of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr, and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force (Reuters)
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In Lebanon, Life on Hold Four Times Amid Conflict

A billboard in a Beirut street features images of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr, and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force (Reuters)
A billboard in a Beirut street features images of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr, and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force (Reuters)

Since Hezbollah opened a front in southern Lebanon to support Gaza, Lebanese lives have been upended, with fears that this support could escalate into a devastating war.
The conflict has seen four key moments. Initially, diplomatic efforts tried to contain the situation. Tensions grew after the Israeli military killed Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut’s southern suburbs in early January. This led to a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at preventing the war from spreading.
The third phase came after Israel's killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard leaders at the Iranian consulate in Damascus and Iran’s retaliation. The fourth phase is unfolding now, with Israel recently assassinating Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
This has left Lebanon in suspense, with everyday life paused as everyone waits for responses from Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel.
The strategies of both sides have shifted. Hezbollah thought that attacking northern Israeli settlements would force Israel to stop its assault on Gaza and meet its demands.
However, Hezbollah’s goals were not met. On the other hand, the Israeli military believed that its strikes in Lebanon and Syria would make Hezbollah retreat and comply with Resolution 1701 by withdrawing north of the Litani River. This has not happened, despite international pressure.
Whenever tensions rose, diplomatic efforts were made to prevent the conflict from widening. These efforts succeeded in stopping the war from expanding before the recent assassinations of Shukr and Haniyeh but failed to de-escalate or end the current conflict.
A diplomatic source, speaking under the conditions of anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat that international efforts have not yet managed to ease the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon is now facing crucial and challenging days as it awaits Hezbollah’s response to the assassinations and Israel’s reaction.
The source pointed out that embassy closures and urgent evacuation warnings from Western embassies underline the serious risks, signaling that any major attack on Israel could have severe consequences for Lebanon.
The source hopes that all parties understand that the ongoing diplomatic efforts are the last chance to avoid a wider war.
As Lebanon waits for Hezbollah’s response to the killing of Shukr and Iran’s reaction to the assassination of Haniyeh, the country is facing high tension.
Western and Arab embassies have urgently advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, and most airlines have suspended flights to Beirut International Airport.