Israel denies war with Lebanon amid Nasrallah's death
Israel is not at war with the nation of Lebanon, said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after Hezbollah confirmed that its leader Hasan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. "Nasrallah threatened Israelis and the citizens of other countries," he added.
"(Nasrallah) was the murderer of thousands of Israelis and citizens of other countries. He posed a direct threat to the lives of thousands of Israelis and citizens of other countries," Gallant emphasised in a statement.
"To the people of Lebanon, I say: our war is not with you. It’s time for change," he added.
Also on Saturday, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari spoke, calling Nasrallah "one of Israel's greatest enemies in history."
"For decades, he posed a threat to the citizens of Israel, and eliminating him makes the world a safer place," he said.
"This is not the end"
At the same time, he emphasised that "this is not the end; Hezbollah has more capabilities" and added that Israeli fighter jets are currently attacking the targets of this terrorist group in Lebanon.
Hagari noted that the Israeli military is not seeking further escalation of the conflict, but its main goal is the release of hostages and the return of evacuated residents to their homes.
He added that the Defence Minister has approved limiting the number of gatherings in the central part of the country to 1,000 people.
