Death of Hezbollah's Nasrallah historic turning point, settles score: Netanyahu

In his first public statement since Israel killed Nasrallah, Netanyahu said that Israel has "settled the account" with a "mass murderer" responsible for the killings of several Israelis and many American and French citizens, The Times of Israel reported.

In Short

• Benjamin Netanyahu calls Nasrallah's death a 'historic turning point'
• Netanyahu says Nasrallah's death was a "necessary condition" to achieve Israel's goals
• Israeli airstrike targeted Hezbollah's central command on Saturday evening

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel "settled the account" with a "mass murderer" after death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon's Beirut.

In his first public statement since Israel killed Nasrallah, Netanyahu said that Israel has “settled the account” with a “mass murderer” responsible for the killings of "countless Israelis" and many American and French citizens, The Times of Israel reported.

After returning from his trip to the United Nations in New York, Netanyahu said that the killing of Hassan Nasrallah was a "historic turning point".

"Citizens of Israel, these are momentous days. We are at what will be seen as a historic turning point. One year ago, on October 7, our enemies attacked us and thought that Israel was on the road to being wiped out. One year later, blow after blow, achievement after achievement, they understand how their hopes have dissipated. Israel has momentum; we are winning," Netanyahu said.

Israel's military said on Saturday it had "eliminated" Nasrallah after bombing Hezbollah's central command in the Lebanese capital, where the 64-year-old was reportedly holed up in a bunker.

Netanyahu said that Nasrallah's death was a "necessary condition" to achieve Israel's goals.

"Nasrallah was not a terrorist, he was the terrorist," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"Nasrallah's killing was a necessary step toward achieving the goals we have set, returning residents of the north safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years to come," he added.

The Israeli Prime Minister said that he gave the directive for the attack that targeted Hassan Nasrallah, as the blows the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had been landing on Hezbollah in recent days were "not enough", BBC News reported.

Netanyahu further said that Nasrallah was "the central engine of Iran's axis of evil".

Israel is determined to continue striking its enemies, he added.

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, with the Israeli military confirming that multiple buildings were struck in Dahiyeh, a known Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least nine people died and over 90 were injured in the attack.