Israel’s Defence Minister Warns Hezbollah’s New Leader Amid Escalating Tensions

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stark warning to Naim Qassem, newly appointed leader of Hezbollah, suggesting his leadership role may be short-lived. “Temporary appointment. Not for long,” Gallant stated in a post on X, accompanied by a photograph of Qassem. Gallant, who also wrote that the “countdown has begun,” conveyed Israel’s uncompromising stance on Hezbollah’s continued aggression.

During his visit to Israel’s northern military command, Gallant estimated that Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities had been significantly degraded by ongoing Israeli strikes. He claimed that Israel’s recent operations had reduced Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal to roughly 20 percent of its original capacity, rendering the group unable to organize substantial missile barrages. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli military reported approximately 60 rockets launched into Israel by Hezbollah, underscoring ongoing hostilities. On some days, Hezbollah has launched between 180 to 200 projectiles, according to Israeli military data.

Israel has intensified airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s weapons production and storage sites throughout Lebanon. Gallant also noted that Israeli forces have pushed Hezbollah from villages along the Israel-Lebanon border, dismantling infrastructure that the group previously used for strategic advantage. “These actions create a different reality in Lebanon and in the region as well,” he commented, hinting at Israel’s broader objective to destabilize Hezbollah’s operations.

Hezbollah, a group known for its extensive weaponry, was estimated to hold an arsenal of around 150,000 rockets before the October 2023 escalation with Israel. Its armament reportedly includes advanced anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and anti-ship missiles, alongside ballistic missiles with the capacity to strike deep within Israeli territory. Gallant’s remarks underscore Israel’s firm commitment to neutralizing Hezbollah’s military threat in the region.