Netanyahu Says Defeating Iran Could Bring End to Hamas and Hezbollah

What happened

Naharnet Lebanon reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday night that defeating Iran could lead to the elimination of Hamas and Hezbollah. Netanyahu told Channel 14, "It is clear that if this regime is defeated, the path to the final elimination of Hamas and the elimination of Hezbollah is not far off, and we will complete it."

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Netanyahu framed the ongoing War of Redemption, which began with the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, as unfinished business, emphasizing the need to address new threats beyond these Iranian-backed groups. The Israeli premier also mentioned tensions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting Erdoğan does not like Israel or Netanyahu personally and describing the regional environment as challenging.

The Israeli leader warned that the outcome of the October 27 election is critical, suggesting that a government led by opposition parties might withdraw the Israeli army from security zones established in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. He claimed this could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to the report.

Known from the source

• Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted by Naharnet Lebanon on August 31, 2026, stating that defeating Iran could lead to the elimination of Hamas and Hezbollah.
• Netanyahu made the statement during an interview with Channel 14.
• Netanyahu linked Israel’s War of Redemption to the need for further actions against Iran-backed groups.
• Netanyahu warned about potential consequences of the upcoming Israeli election on Israel’s military presence in security zones in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon.
• Naharnet Lebanon is a local English-language public news source based in Lebanon.

What remains unclear

The article does not provide independent verification of Netanyahu’s claims regarding the defeat of Iran leading to Hamas and Hezbollah’s end, nor does it confirm any current changes in conflict dynamics on the Lebanon-Israel border or south Lebanon linked directly to these statements.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Confirm Naharnet Lebanon’s exact wording and context of Netanyahu’s claims via the original interview or independent sources. Verify if any independent assessments or official statements support or contradict Netanyahu’s assertion that defeating Iran would lead to the elimination of Hamas and Hezbollah. Check for recent developments regarding Israeli military presence and tactics in south Lebanon and any Lebanese or UNIFIL responses relevant to Netanyahu’s warnings.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Naharnet Lebanon. Open the source.