Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soften up Lebanon and Iran ahead of the decisive assault, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ‘encouraging’ the citizens in the two countries to throw out their terror infrastructures and reclaim their countries.
On September 30, directly addressing the Iranians, Netanyahu conveyed both a warning to their theocratic regime and an assurance to its citizens, amid Israel’s escalating actions against Iranian-backed terror groups in the Middle East.
Likewise, on Tuesday, he directly appealed to the Lebanese, reminding them that Lebanon was “once the pearl of the Middle East known for its tolerance and beauty,” as he urged the people to reclaim their country, which “Hezbollah has turned into a stockpile of ammunition and a forward Iranian military base.”
His appeal on Tuesday came hours after Israel expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon, deploying more troops to start “limited, localized, targeted operational activities” as part of Tel Aviv’s ‘Operation Northern Arrows’ against Hezbollah, the Shia terror group raised by Iran against Israel.
In his video address, Netanyahu said, “This is a message to the people of Lebanon. Do you remember when your country was called the Pearl of the Middle East? I do. So, what happened to Lebanon? A gang of tyrants and terrorists destroyed it. That’s what happened.”
“Lebanon was once known for its tolerance, for its beauty. Today, it’s a place of chaos, a place of war,” he added.
He also warned the Lebanese to save their nation “before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering as see in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
“Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice. You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity. If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense. It doesn’t care if Lebanon is dragged into a wider war.”
He also reiterated his vow to eliminate Hezbollah and claimed to have killed thousands of its militants, including former chief Hassan Nasrallah and his likely successors.
“Israel has decided to put an end to this. We’ve decided to do whatever is necessary to return our people safely to their homes. Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel also has a right to win! And Israel will win.”
Hezbollah, however, remained defiant despite Israel’s steady advances and unabated strikes against Lebanon over the past three weeks that have led to the deaths of more than 1,400 people and displaced another 1.2 million.
Earlier on Tuesday, Naim Qassem, Nasrallah’s former deputy, claimed that Hezbollah had overcome the recent “painful blows” from Israel and that its capabilities were “fine.”
Earlier, on September 30, Netanyahu condemned Iran’s leadership for allegedly prioritizing regional conflicts over its own people’s welfare. “Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you, make fiery speeches about defending Lebanon, defending Gaza,” he said, adding that the theocratic Iranian government was “plunging the region deeper into darkness and deeper into war.”
Referring to Tehran’s support for Hezbollah and Hamas, terror groups engaged in violent conflicts with Israel, Netanyahu said that Iran’s proxies were being systematically targeted. “Iran’s puppets are being eliminated,” he said, adding that there was “nowhere we will not go to protect our people.”
“With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you – the noble Persian people – closer to the abyss,” he said. “The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn’t care a whit about them. If it did care, if it cared about you, it would stop wasting billions of dollars on futile wars across the Middle East. It would start improving your lives.
“Imagine if all the vast money the regime wasted on nuclear weapons and foreign wars were invested in your children’s education, in improving your health care, in building your nation’s infrastructure, water, sewage, all the other things that you need. Imagine that.”
Netanyahu predicted a future where Iran is free from theocratic rule, envisioning a new era of peace between Israel and Iran. He expressed confidence that change would come “a lot sooner than people think.” According to Netanyahu, a post-regime Iran would enjoy prosperity through global investments, tourism, and technological advancements.
“When Iran is finally free – and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think – everything will be different,” he said. “Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people, and the Persian people, will finally be at peace. Our two countries, Israel and Iran, will be at peace.
“When that day comes, the terror network that the regime built in five continents will be bankrupt, dismantled. Iran will thrive as never before: Global investment; massive tourism; and brilliant technological innovation based on the tremendous talents that exist inside Iran. Doesn’t that sound better than endless poverty, repression, and war?”
His direct message came in the wake of Israel’s intensified operations against Iranian proxies. Days before Netanyahu’s statement, the IDF executed a major airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the group’s headquarters in Beirut. The strike also reportedly took the life of a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official. Nasrallah’s death has been met with celebration by anti-regime Iranians worldwide.
“You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better. I know you don’t support the rapists and murderers of Hamas and Hezbollah, but your leaders do. You deserve more. The people of Iran should know – Israel stands with you. May we together know a future of prosperity and peace,” Netanyahu added.
The tension between Israel and Iran reached new heights earlier this year when Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike in Syria that killed several high-ranking IRGC officers. The vast majority of those missiles were intercepted by Israeli defense systems, with the support of a US-led coalition. Israel responded to Iran’s actions with a limited drone strike targeting a nuclear research center in Isfahan.