Recent Israeli attacks on Hezbollah have escalated, delivering a devastating blow to the armed organization. Hezbollah has lost several senior commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah. The White House stated on Sunday (September 29) that Hezbollah’s command structure has been “virtually destroyed”.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby discussed Hezbollah’s leadership during an interview on ABC News program “This Week”.
Nasrallah has led Hezbollah for 32 years. His death in the ongoing intense battles with Israel marks the biggest target taken out so far. His demise presents Hezbollah with the challenge of selecting a new leader.
Regarding who will be chosen as the successor, Kirby stated that the United States is watching closely.
“In the past few days, Hezbollah’s command structure has been almost destroyed. There’s no doubt that today’s Hezbollah is not the same as it was a week ago,” he said.
Kirby also commented on the substantial blow to Hezbollah’s command structure during an interview on CNN’s program “State of the Union”.
“I believe that destroying Hezbollah’s command structure is undoubtedly beneficial to Israel,” Kirby said. “It actually benefits the region and the world as a whole.”
Following the loss of many senior officials, Hezbollah may need to rebuild its leadership. Kirby mentioned that the U.S. is monitoring the actions the armed organization will take to fill the leadership vacuum.
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike on September 27. Hezbollah confirmed on Sunday that along with Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Southern Front commander Ali Karki was also eliminated.
Israel stated that Nasrallah was targeted in a precise airstrike on their Beirut headquarters. The Israeli Defense Forces mentioned that over 20 Hezbollah members of various ranks were also killed at the underground Beirut facility, including Ibrahim Hussein Jazini, the head of Nasrallah’s security team.
The IDF stated that Nasrallah’s longtime advisor Samir Tawfiq Dib and the coordinator of Hezbollah’s firepower Ali Naaf Ayoub were also eliminated.
According to Israeli military sources, Jazini and Dib were among Nasrallah’s closest allies.
In a strike on September 28, the IDF killed Hezbollah’s Defense Security Unit commander and high-ranking member of the Central Committee, Nabil Kaouk.
Hezbollah’s Rocket Department commander Ibrahim Qubaisi and Hezbollah’s Operations Commander Ibrahim Aqil were respectively killed in IDF airstrikes on September 24 and September 20. Another senior commander of the organization, Ahmed Wahbi, also perished in an Israeli airstrike on September 20.
On Sunday, Israel launched a new round of attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel’s goal is to end the rocket attacks from Hezbollah in the northern region, allowing thousands of displaced Israeli residents to return home.
Kirby told CNN, “Engaging in full-scale warfare with Hezbollah and Iran is not the solution. If you want these residents to return home safely and sustainably, we believe that diplomatic approaches are the right path.”
Kirby reiterated the U.S. stance on ABC’s program, stating that Israel has the right and responsibility to eliminate threats to its people, territory, and sovereignty. This is a terrorist organization that continues to launch missiles and rockets at Israel. Israel has the right to target any remaining Hezbollah infrastructure.
“At the same time, we do believe that we need to find ways to de-escalate tensions to prevent an all-out war,” Kirby said.
As questions arise about how Iran will respond following the killing of Hezbollah leaders and other commanders, Kirby noted that based on Iran’s statements, “they will try to do something.”
“We are monitoring this very closely to see how Hezbollah, Iran, and militia groups in Iraq and Syria will react,” Kirby said.
“We need to be prepared for some kind of response and ensure that we are ready. We believe we have the necessary military capabilities in the region.”
Kirby’s comments come as the U.S. strengthens its military posture in the Middle East. Earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of “a small number” of additional U.S. troops to the region. The White House stated that Biden has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust U.S. military posture in the Middle East as needed to enhance U.S. deterrence, defense, and support for overarching American objectives.
Kirby mentioned during the Sunday interview, “There are additional emergency forces in the region right now to help us respond to any potential unforeseen events.” He declined to reveal what other adjustments the U.S. has made in bolstering its military presence besides increasing personnel. However, he stated, “We have more military capability in the Middle East now than back in April when Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones. So, we have a very robust military capability to defend ourselves and assist in defending Israel when necessary.”