GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 358

He’s Dead Jim

The Top One Bites The Dust

Yesterday there were people saying that Hezbollah terror chief Nasrallah was killed or he survived a strike on his headquarters. Today both the IDF and Hezbollah confirmed he neutralized as they say in military terms. We read more on this development in an article from The Times Of Israel:

Long-time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders of the terror group were killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on their underground headquarters in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces announced Saturday morning as Israel sought to dramatically upend the year-long conflict.

The announcement came as the Israeli military ramped up its airstrikes against Hezbollah assets in Beirut and other areas in Lebanon, hours after Nasrallah was struck at the terror group’s main headquarters, leaving parts of the Lebanese capital shrouded in smoke and dust.

The higher echelons of Hezbollah are quite thin now:

Israel has eliminated much of the Hezbollah terror group’s most senior leadership in recent weeks.

In a statement, the IDF said that alongside Nasrallah, the commander of Hezbollah’s so-called Southern Front, Ali Karaki — who survived a recent assassination attempt — was also killed in the Friday afternoon strike, along with other top commanders in the terror group.

As we suspected, the IDF used heavy duty bombs:

Nasrallah was targeted by dozens of bunker-busting bombs dropped by Israeli Force fighter jets while at Hezbollah’s main headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh.

The headquarters was located underground, beneath residential buildings in the Dahiyeh, the IDF said, later announced that the name of the operation was called “New Order.”

The timing was specific as they inflicted maximum damage to leadership other than Nasrallah:

“The strike was carried out while the top brass of Hezbollah were at their headquarters and engaged in coordinating terror activities against the citizens of the State of Israel,” the military said.

The IDF used years of tracking along with current intelligence to hit him:

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said the airstrike targeting Nasrallah was based on years of tracking him, along with “real-time intelligence.” He said Israel confirmed the death through various types of intelligence, though he declined to elaborate.

They Admitted It

Some wouldn’t believe that Nasrallah was killed until the terrorist group announced it and they did hours after the IDF stated it:

Hezbollah confirmed his death on Saturday afternoon.

Of course they spoke glowingly about him:

“Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, has joined his great, immortal martyr comrades whom he led for about 30 years,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

And they said, predictably that they are still attacking Israel and proved it by firing more rockets:

The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.”

During the morning Hezbollah had resumed rocket fire on northern Israel, as well as firing a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv and long-range rockets at the West Bank.

The IDF also took the time to let any terrorist anywhere that they shouldn’t get too comfortable:

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi after the assassination of Nasrallah said Israel would reach anyone who threatened the country and its citizens.

“The is not the end of the tools in the toolbox. The message is simple, to anyone who threatens the citizens of the State of Israel, we will know how to get to them,” he said.

The IDF is well aware that Hezbollah has a lot of weapons still and a lot of troops waiting for new commands:

Shoshani said much of Hezbollah’s arsenal remains intact despite intense Israeli strikes over the past week, and that Israel will continue to target the group.

“This isn’t a threat that has gone away,” he said. Shoshani said it is “safe to assume” that Hezbollah will retaliate.

But he said Israel hopes the blow “will change Hezbollah’s actions” and alter the course of the war.

My thinking is that we just got much closer to an all-out attack on Israel from not only Hezbollah but also the other proxies and even Iran just as predicted in the Bible in the Psalm 83 prophecies. But how much Hezbollah plays in this might need to be reassessed.

Achieving Their Goals

Prime Minister Netanyahu flew back early as news of the strike that killed Nasrallah got to him. Once home he then addressed the nation as we read in a report from The Jerusalem Post:

Former Hezbollah leader was the "central engine of Iran’s axis of evil," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a televised address in Hebrew after he returned to Israel from the US on Saturday evening.

The PM stated clearly that this wasn’t just another terrorist they killed:

"The one who rises to kill you—rise and kill him first," Netanyahu said. "The State of Israel has eliminated the arch-terrorist Hassan Nasrallah. We have settled accounts with the man responsible for the murder of countless Israelis and many citizens of other nations, including hundreds of Americans. Nasrallah was not just another terrorist. He was the terrorist.

Netanyahu then added that he couldn’t stop with all the other leaders they took out previously:

"He was the core, the central engine of Iran’s axis of evil. He and his people were the architects of the plan to destroy Israel. He was not only operated by Iran; many times, he operated Iran himself. That is why, at the beginning of the week, I came to the conclusion that the powerful blows the IDF dealt Hezbollah in recent days were not enough," the prime minister continued.

And taking out their arch enemy from the north got them closer to letting Israelis return to their homes and businesses:

"Eliminating Nasrallah was a necessary condition for achieving the goals we set: returning the residents of the North safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years to come.

As long as Nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rebuilt the capabilities we had taken from Hezbollah. And so, I gave the order—Nasrallah is no longer with us."

Netanyahu also feels that Hamas may be more inclined to negotiate now that Hezbollah isn’t able to help them out now:

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed confidence that not only will the killing of Nasrallah advance the return of the evacuated Israelis in the North, but Hamas leader Sinwar will be more inclined to negotiate the return of hostages as Hezbollah's support wanes.

The PM did thank those who pulled the mission off and took a shot at Nasrallah at the same time:

Netanyahu commended the IDF, Air Force, Military Intelligence, Mossad, and Shin Bet for their achievements over the past year while acknowledging that challenges remain ahead.

Netanyahu emphasized Israel's unity and strength, countering Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's description of Israel's agency as one covered in "spider webs."

He also said that Israel is getting more respect from those outside their borders:

Netanyahu stated that not only Hezbollah, but the entire Middle East has recognized Israel's strength, offering hope to those oppressed by Iran and its proxies. He affirmed Israel's solidarity with the citizens suffering under these regimes and issued a warning to Iran, declaring that any attack on Israel would be met with a decisive response.

And he let Israelis know that this was a huge victory as they approach the one-year anniversary of the attack against them by Hamas:

"Citizens of Israel, these are momentous days. We are at what seems to be a historical turning point. A year ago, on October 7, our enemies attacked us, thinking that Israel was on the path to extinction."

Netanyahu reflected on a year of continuous successes for Israel following the disaster of October 7, stating that the country's enemies now realize their hopes are fading while Israel grows stronger.

He reaffirmed Israel's commitment to defeating its enemies, restoring displaced citizens to their homes, and securing the return of all hostages. Addressing the nation, he expressed unwavering confidence that Israel shall prevail with unity and divine help.

I’m happy that Netanyahu acknowledged the help they are getting from God. And we need to continue to lift up Israel in prayer because this war is going to get really difficult in the coming weeks or even days. Her enemies are like a cornered animal now. They won’t give up easily.