Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was a historical turning point that could change the balance of power in the Middle East though he warned of 'challenging days' ahead.

"Nasrallah's killing was a necessary step toward achieving the goals we have set, returning residents of the north safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years to come," Netanyahu said in a statement.