Gallant: Hezbollah is 'on the verge of collapse'

Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, told soldiers of his army that detained members of Hezbollah are 'terrified' and that the group, supported by the Iranian government, is 'collapsing.' According to Gallant, Hezbollah members who have been arrested and interrogated by Israel claim that the group's power, combat capability, precision, and determination are insufficient to cope with the current situation. The Israeli army recently released footage of a member of Hezbollah's Radwan unit, in which the interrogated member discusses the plans of this Iranian-backed group in southern Lebanon and its current status. Gallant emphasized that the army's forces are transitioning from defeating Hezbollah in village-to-village operations in southern Lebanon to destroying tunnels, weapons depots, and eliminating the group. The Israeli Defense Minister added that the country's goal is to enable the return of residents from border areas with Lebanon to their homes. Following the terrorist attack on October 7, Hezbollah, as the main proxy arm of the Islamic Republic, unilaterally began its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel. In response, Israel has conducted severe attacks against the positions of this group in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members of this Iranian-backed group, including its leader and senior military commanders such as Hassan Nasrallah, Foad Shakir, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization implies no distinction between its political and military branches, labeling both as terrorist entities. Gallant stated in an interview that Israel's attacks aim to weaken Hezbollah's military infrastructure and prevent missile attacks. Netanyahu described his assassination plot as a 'big mistake,' asserting a determination to 'change the security reality' in the Middle East. An Israeli general stated that the Iranian government does not know what will happen to Hezbollah. Who has Israel eliminated among the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah?