- Israel striking Lebanon with ‘full force’ despite ceasefire calls
- Lebanon says 92 killed on Thursday by Israeli strikes, hundreds injured
- The situation is raising fears of a full-scale war
Israel striking Lebanon with ‘full force’ despite ceasefire calls
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to continue its offensive against Hezbollah with “full force,” despite growing international pressure for a ceasefire.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 92 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, with hundreds more casualties since the conflict escalated on Monday. Hezbollah confirmed that an airstrike in southern Beirut killed Mohammad Surur, the head of its drone unit.
The situation is raising fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah after a sharp increase in Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Initially, there was some hope for de-escalation when Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, expressed openness to ceasefire proposals. However, by Thursday, Israeli politicians had firmly rejected the idea.
Upon arriving in New York for the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would not halt its operations until its goals were met, particularly ensuring the safe return of northern residents to their homes. “We will not stop,” he said.
Despite Netanyahu’s stance, the White House maintained that the ceasefire proposal had been coordinated with Israel. Shortly after, Netanyahu’s office released a statement to address the “misreporting” surrounding the U.S.-led ceasefire initiative. The statement acknowledged that Israel supports the goal of allowing residents near the northern border to return safely and appreciates U.S. efforts, but emphasised that discussions would continue in the coming days.
In Lebanon, approximately 90,000 people have been displaced since Monday, adding to the 110,000 already forced to flee, according to the UN.
