On October 8th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a video address announcing the death of a key figure regarded as the successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, though he refrained from revealing the successor’s identity.

In his address, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has considerably diminished Hezbollah’s operational capabilities. He stated, “Nasrallah, Nasrallah’s successor, and the successor’s successor have all been eliminated,” underlining Hezbollah’s weakened status compared to previous years.

International media reports suggest that Netanyahu’s comments might pertain to the demise of senior Hezbollah official Hashim Safieddine. Safieddine, who had been positioned as a likely successor to Nasrallah, was reportedly killed during an Israeli strike on the southern outskirts of Beirut on October 4th. As the chairman of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, Safieddine was responsible for the group’s political matters. Following the October 4th attack, he had not been seen, and Hezbollah has yet to officially confirm his death.

Later that evening, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Heidari, a spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces, addressed the situation. He noted that Israel had previously targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters where Safieddine was believed to be located. Heidari pointed out that Hezbollah is trying to obscure the details of these developments, adding that an investigation into the aftermath of the attack is ongoing.

In related news, Axios reported that President Biden is scheduled for a crucial phone call with Netanyahu on the morning of October 9th to discuss Israel’s strategies for confronting Iran. This call will be their first direct conversation in nearly two months.

U.S. officials suggest that Biden aims to clarify the extent of Israel’s retaliatory measures against Iran during this discussion. The United States is advocating for targeted strikes against significant Iranian targets while also trying to prevent any disproportionate escalation.

Reports indicate that Netanyahu held extensive talks with Israeli leadership on the evening of October 8th to outline the strategies and timings for potential actions against Iran. This follows Iran’s launch of multiple ballistic missiles towards Israel on October 1st in retaliation for Israeli actions, which prompted Israeli vows of revenge. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned on the same day that any strikes on Iranian infrastructure would result in a stronger response.

Meanwhile, on the international stage, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns on October 8th about two proposed bills in the Israeli parliament. He cautioned that if passed, these bills could obstruct the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza and the West Bank, labeling it a potential “disaster.” Guterres has directly communicated his concerns to Netanyahu.

He stressed that the passage of these bills would contravene the UN Charter and breach Israel’s obligations under international law. Politically, he argued that the legislation would undermine efforts toward sustainable peace and the two-state solution, further escalating instability and insecurity in the region. These bills were reviewed by Israel’s parliament on October 6th, aiming to restrict UNRWA’s operations within Israel and revoke the usual privileges granted to UN personnel.