'Will speak in actions': Netanyahu rejects call for Lebanon ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Jerusalem would continue its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon until all objectives are met, despite the United States—its key ally, urging a ceasefire. "We will speak through actions, not words," Netanyahu posted on X. Israel dismissed international demands for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, defying Washington, and continued its strikes, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, raising concerns about a potential regional conflict.
Why does this story matter?
The recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed another Hezbollah commander, Muhammad Hussein Srour, marking the fourth attack on Iran-backed Hezbollah members within a week. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has claimed over 1,500 lives since it erupted at the Lebanese border amid the Gaza war. This week's Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds have killed more than 700 people and displaced around 118,000, fueling fears of a broader Middle East conflict.
International response to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict
US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and leaders from Japan and key Gulf Arab powers have jointly stated that the situation in Lebanon has become "intolerable" and "is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon." Their appeal for a three-week ceasefire came hours after Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, told soldiers Wednesday to prepare for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's response
Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for targeting defense industry complexes near Haifa in northern Israel, stating it was "defending Lebanon and its people." This follows their previous claim of targeting Israel's Mossad spy agency headquarters on Tel Aviv's outskirts. Meanwhile, Halevi has instructed soldiers to prepare for a potential ground offensive against Hezbollah as two reserve brigades were called up "for operational missions in the northern arena."
Israel's military strikes
The Israeli military reported striking "approximately 75 terror targets" in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, both known Hezbollah strongholds. These areas have witnessed a significant exodus of people fleeing their homes recently. In response to these strikes, around 45 rockets were fired from Lebanon toward Israel. Some were intercepted while others landed in unpopulated areas, as per the Israeli military.
