Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a directive for the country’s military to continue its aggressive campaign against Hezbollah, despite international calls for a ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with Lebanon’s health ministry reporting at least 92 people killed in Israeli air strikes on Thursday alone.
Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Mohammad Surur, the head of its drone unit, in an Israeli air strike on an apartment building in Beirut. The escalating violence has raised fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israeli strikes intensifying since Monday.
In response to the mounting hostilities, a coalition of countries, including the US, UK, and EU, proposed a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Initially met with some hope, the ceasefire proposal was ultimately rejected by Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, who vowed to continue the military campaign until all of Israel’s goals are achieved.
The White House stated that the ceasefire proposal had been coordinated with Israel, despite Netanyahu’s assertion to the contrary. The UK Prime Minister also called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control.
As the situation continues to escalate, the Israeli military has targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched rockets towards northern Israel. The possibility of a ground invasion into Lebanon has been raised by Israeli military officials, further heightening tensions in the region.
In the midst of the conflict, Qatar has joined calls for de-escalation, citing reports of civilian casualties in Lebanon. The US Defense Secretary emphasized the importance of a diplomatic solution to prevent an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defense ministry announced a substantial $8.7 billion US aid package to support its military campaigns, including funding for essential wartime procurement and air defense systems. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains a critical issue, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the region.
