Netanyahu warns Lebanon could face devastation similar to Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the people of Lebanon they could face "destruction and suffering" like the Palestinians in war-battered Gaza if they don't "free" the country from Hezbollah.

"You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza," Netanyahu said in a video address directed to the people of Lebanon.

"I say to you, the people of Lebanon: Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end."

Netanyahu said Israeli forces "took out thousands of terrorists, including (Hassan) Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement and the replacement of his replacement."

On Saturday, a high-level Hezbollah source said that contact with Hashem Safieddine -- widely touted as Hezbollah's next leader -- had been lost following Israeli strikes last week.

The Israeli military has been pummelling the southern suburbs of Beirut with continual air raids, targeting Hezbollah's leaders, military installations and weapons caches.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah had been "battered and broken" by the relentless strikes on its strongholds and the killing of its leader.