Nasrallah’s demise cracked Iranian axis
The elimination of Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah isn’t the final chapter in this conflict, but it’s a pivotal moment that will reverberate far into the future. In one swift stroke, the tide has turned in the northern arena.
Yet this isn’t merely about removing the mastermind behind the world’s most lethal terror network. After all, one individual can be replaced.
What we’re witnessing is the systematic dismantling of Hezbollah’s command structure. The precision strikes in its Beirut stronghold, targeting vital strategic assets, deliver an unprecedented blow to the very concept of “resistance.” This operation challenges the misguided notion that a network of terror groups could somehow push the Jewish state out of the Middle East.
By decapitating Hezbollah’s military leadership, Israel has simultaneously toppled the tyrant who held Lebanon in his grip. This was the man who transformed the land of cedars into an international pariah, scared off Gulf investors, and paralyzed Lebanon’s political system for nearly two years.
With no sitting president and a caretaker government dominated by Hezbollah and its allies, no decision could be made without the secretary-general’s nod, sometimes not even without Tehran’s blessing.
The weekend’s revelations showed Israel’s resolve extends beyond Nasrallah to his potential successors: Hashim Safi a-Din and Nabil Qaouk. This ruthless turn of events followed a week of mixed signals, with Israel hinting at “gradual escalation” or a “temporary ceasefire,” seemingly hoping Nasrallah would “see reason.”
Friday’s brilliant deception culminated in a seismic event. Syrian rebels called for Assad’s ouster, Iranian dissidents longed for Khamenei’s demise, and Saudi social media lit up with calls against the Houthi leader in Yemen. The vaunted Iranian axis cracked, inviting its foes to strike without mercy.
Israel faces challenging days ahead. There’s no guarantee international pressure will secure a ceasefire on our terms, especially after neutralizing strategic threats to our northern residents. The surviving Hezbollah leadership will likely try to honor their pledge to Nasrallah and “to continue the jihad and support Gaza.” A ground offensive carries risks of a war of attrition, and we must brace for potential attacks on Israelis abroad.
The operation also claimed the life of Iran’s Quds Force commander in Lebanon, complicating Tehran’s response calculus. His predecessor’s elimination prompted Iranian missile strikes on Israel. However, Iran’s new leadership under the current Iranian president and his deputy seeks rapprochement with the West to lift sanctions.
A regional flare-up could derail their plans. Nonetheless, with proper preparation, we can weather these storms.
Ultimately, Hezbollah’s defeats send a clear message to Hamas. Sinwar and his cohorts, once banking on northern salvation, must now face reality: their only lifeline is releasing the hostages. Israel must seize this opportunity decisively.
Shachar Kleiman is a news editor and correspondent for Israel Hayom’s Arab Desk.
