Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects US-Backed Lebanon Ceasefire Plan; Hezbollah Drone Unit Head Killed: 10 Key Updates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-led push for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and has vowed to continue military operations against Hezbollah targets. This decision comes amidst escalating tensions and violence in the region. Here are 10 significant updates on the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict:

1. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s “policy is clear” and that the military will continue to strike Hezbollah until all objectives are achieved. He specifically cited the secure return of residents in Israel’s northern region as a primary goal.
2. In an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah’s drone unit head, Mohammad Hussein Srour, was killed. Hezbollah confirmed his death, with Srour being a key figure in their military operations.
3. Both Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated there would be no ceasefire. Gallant stressed that the aim is to keep Hezbollah “off balance” and increase their losses.
4. Despite attempts by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron to broker a ceasefire, Israel’s leadership has rejected these efforts, signaling ongoing military operations.
5. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib reported that half a million people have been displaced due to Israeli airstrikes. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed 92 deaths and 153 injuries in the past 24 hours alone.
6. Since the start of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in October last year, over 1,500 people have been killed. More than 700 of those deaths occurred in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since Monday.
7. The US, European nations, and Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have urged for a halt in fighting amid fears that a potential Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon could escalate into a regional war involving the US and Iran.
8. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in London, warned that a full-scale war could have devastating consequences for both Israel and Lebanon, advocating for a diplomatic resolution rather than a military one.
9. French President Macron cautioned against Lebanon becoming a new conflict zone like Gaza, highlighting the alarming number of civilian casualties.
10. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati had expressed hope for a ceasefire, but Israel’s refusal has dimmed the chances of a swift resolution to the conflict.