In a rejection of international appeals for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its military offensive against Hezbollah, intensifying airstrikes that have resulted in hundreds of casualties in Lebanon.
This defiance includes a recent attack on Thursday that struck the outskirts of Beirut, claiming two lives and injuring 15 others, with a woman reported to be in critical condition, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The recent bombardment has raised the death toll to 28 from strikes conducted overnight and throughout Thursday.
The Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted Mohammad Surur, head of one of Hezbollah’s air force units, marking a significant loss for the organisation amid a series of targeted assassinations of senior commanders in recent days.
Smoke billowed from the scene near an area populated with both Hezbollah facilities and civilians, with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV broadcasting images of damage to local buildings.
In a show of military readiness, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducted an exercise simulating a ground invasion, signalling a potential escalation following extensive aerial assaults and the destruction of communication infrastructures.
Israel’s military has vowed to secure its northern regions and facilitate the safe return of thousands of evacuated residents amidst ongoing cross-border attacks initiated by Hezbollah in solidarity with Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Upon arriving in the U.S. to address the U.N. General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to escalating military operations, stating, “We will keep hitting Hezbollah with full force and we will not stop until we achieve all our goals, first and foremost returning the residents of the north safely to their homes.”
This hardline stance from Israel has dampened hopes for a swift resolution, even as Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose government includes Hezbollah representatives, expressed optimism for a ceasefire. The recent hostilities have led to mass displacement, with hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes during the most intense Israeli bombardment of Lebanon since the 2006 war.
International allies, including the U.S. and France, have urged an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border, while also advocating for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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