Euroviews. Can Lebanon finally free itself from Hezbollah's grip?

If satellites are the new artillery of modern warfare, as articulated in the iconic 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a verbal bombshell in a video message broadcast worldwide.

He characterised Hezbollah as a "gang of tyrants and terrorists," and urged the Lebanese people to set themselves free from the terror group.

"You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering, as we see in Gaza," declared Netanyahu. "It doesn't have to be that way."

While Netanyahu has made similar statements in the past, this moment feels markedly different—and far more toxic.

By urging the Lebanese to break away from Hezbollah, a group better equipped than Lebanon’s armed forces, he risks igniting existing tensions in a nation already grappling with deep-seated sectarian divisions and political instability.

Any grassroots uprising could quickly spiral into violent chaos, drawing various factions into the fray, intensifying long-standing rivalries, and further destabilising the country.

Since the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah nearly two weeks ago, Hezbollah’s leadership has suffered significant losses due to Israeli airstrikes. However, the group is far from rudderless.

Rocket fire continues to rain down on Israel, targeting key locations such as the port city of Haifa, an essential economic gateway for the Jewish state. These ongoing attacks underscore Hezbollah's resilience and its ability to retaliate despite its leadership crisis.

With a wealth of experience — including multiple interviews with Hezbollah’s assassinated leader — I can vividly envision the moment death came for Israel’s most