Israeli President: Hezbollah Armed to the Teeth by Iran's 'Empire of Evil'

Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, said in an interview with Sky News on Sunday that the slain Hezbollah commanders gathered for planning an attack similar to the terrorist attack of October 7, this time in northern Israel. He stated that the ongoing war was initiated by Iran's proxy groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, under the command of the Islamic Republic, and that as a result of Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel, tens of thousands of Israelis have been forced to leave their homes. Herzog emphasized, "We have decided to change the equation and we are currently working to change this equation." The Israeli President repeatedly stressed during the interview that his country is not seeking war. In response to a question about whether Israel is at war with Lebanon, he said Israel has no interest in war with Lebanon, "but Lebanon has been hijacked by the terrorist group Hezbollah... which has been armed to the teeth by Iran's empire." Herzog clarified that Israel is seeking to return its citizens to their homes in the north of the country. In this context, Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, stated that Hezbollah is gradually feeling "some of our capabilities" and that "we are witnessing the results." Gallant, like other senior Israeli officials, stated that operations against this group will continue until the goal and mission of safely returning displaced Israeli citizens to their residences in the north of the country is achieved. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated over the past year that they will establish security in their northern areas by any means necessary, whether diplomatic or military. Israel is calling for Hezbollah to withdraw from the border areas of Lebanon with Israel. So far, diplomatic efforts to push Hezbollah back across the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the shared border of Israel and Lebanon based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006, have failed. Hezbollah Lebanon was established in 1982 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized the group as a terrorist organization. Recognizing Hezbollah Lebanon as a terrorist organization means not distinguishing between its political and military branches and labeling both branches as terrorists. Netanyahu: We have struck Hezbollah in ways they did not expect. Hezbollah claims to have bombarded northern Israel; the army says it has destroyed all rockets. Axios: American officials hope that Israel's military pressure on Hezbollah will lead to a diplomatic agreement. Germany calls for immediate action to reduce tensions in the Middle East. Continuation of attacks on Hezbollah and new restrictions in northern Israel; Gallant: Killing Hezbollah leaders was also a personal settlement for me. The White House's reaction to the killing of the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan unit: Justice has been served. The Israeli army published the names and images of 12 slain commanders of Hezbollah's Radwan unit.