Eventually, Superman gets the upper hand and subdues Zod, but the General prepares to murder a trapped family with his heat vision and claims he will never stop, forcing Superman to reluctantly snap Zod's neck to save the family, killing him.
Superman gets the upper hand. This is eventually. Superman subdues Zod. This is eventually. The General prepares to murder a trapped family with his heat vision, killing him. He will never stop, forcing Superman to reluctantly snap Zod's neck to save the family, killing him. This is what the General claims.