Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September last year “smashed the Iranian Axis,” reshaping the regional power dynamics.
Speaking at the 2025 JNS (Jewish News Syndicate) International Policy Summit in Jerusalem on Sunday night, Netanyahu explained the strategic importance behind Nasrallah’s elimination.
“Nasrallah manipulated Iran much more than they manipulated him,” Netanyahu said. “He was the axis of the axis, and if we removed him, the axis would break.”
A Major Blow to Iran’s Influence
Netanyahu emphasized that Nasrallah was not just a Hezbollah leader, but a central figure holding together Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East. His removal, Netanyahu asserted, significantly weakened Iran’s ability to project power in the region.
The Prime Minister’s remarks highlighted Israel’s broader strategy to counter Iranian influence through targeted actions against key figures within its allied groups.
A Shift in Regional Dynamics
With Nasrallah gone, Netanyahu suggested that Iran’s so-called “Axis of Evil” — a network that included Hezbollah, various militia groups, and regional proxies — has been severely fractured, creating new opportunities for regional stability and Israeli diplomacy.
