Netanyahu says, Israel has delivered 'crushing blow' to enemies; White House rea

Hours after the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that his nation has delivered crushing blows to enemies in the last few days CNN reportedNetanyahu during the address to the nation however didnt claim Israels responsibility for Haniyehs killing Notably Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind Haniyehs assassinationThree weeks ago we attacked the military chief of Hamas Mohammad Deif Two weeks ago we attacked the Houthis in one of the farthest attacks the Air Force has carried out Yesterday we attacked the military chief of Hezbollah Fuad Shukr the Israeli PM saidNetanyahu said Israel is facing challenging days and it will settle score with anyone who harms the countryThese are challenging days There are threats From Beirut We are ready for any scenario We are prepared CNN quoted him as sayingWell settle the score with anyone who harms us anyone who massacres our children anyone who murders our citizens anyone who hurts our nation blood is on his head Netanyahu addedHe further affirmed that Israel will keep fighting until the aims of the war are achievedNetanyahu referenced previous calls he has received to end the war in Gaza saying I did not give in then and I am not giving in todayReacting to Haniyehs death the White House said it cant confirm or verify reports from Hamas that the groups political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital of TehranUnited States National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby however acknowledged that the deaths of Haniyeh in Tehran and Fuad Shukr in southern Beirut Tuesday certainly dont help with the temperature going downIm not going to be Pollyannish about it were obviously concerned about escalation Kirby told reporters during Wednesdays White House press briefing All of this adds to the complicated nature of what were trying to get doneIn another development Hezbollah confirmed the death of senior commander Fuad Shukr on Wednesday as reported by CNNWe celebrate the great jihadist leader dear beloved brother Fuad Shukr Moshin as a great martyr on the path to Jerusalem Hezbollah said in a statement on WednesdayIsrael said on Tuesday itself that its strike in Beirut killed Shukr whom it blamed for a deadly Saturday attack in the Israelioccupied Golan Heights which killed 12 childrenMeanwhile Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced a national day of mourning Wednesday over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as he condemned the killing as a cowardly act and dangerous development the Times of Israel reportedPalestinian flags were flown at halfstaff for the day the Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported as Palestinian factions announced a general strike and called for demonstrations in the West BankNotably the mourning for the leader of the terror group marked a rare moment of Palestinian unity amid fragmentation and uncertainty about Gazas future leadership after the warThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever