Israel has rejected international calls for a 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah, continuing military strikes that have resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon and escalating fears of a broader regional conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to continue striking Hezbollah in Lebanon “with full force,” despite growing pressure from key allies, including the United States and France.
The United States, France, and other allies, including the UK, Germany, and the European Union, issued a joint call on Wednesday for an immediate ceasefire to allow space for diplomatic negotiations. The statement, coordinated on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, described the situation as “intolerable” and warned of the risk of a broader regional war. This coalition of nations emphasized the need for a temporary halt to hostilities to prevent further escalation and provide an opportunity for peace talks .
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan led the diplomatic push, securing support from leaders of multiple countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati backed the proposal, expressing hope that it would end what he described as a “dirty war” affecting his country. Despite this international appeal, Israel has indicated it will not cease its military operations until achieving its objectives, with the Israeli military continuing its strikes across Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier after arriving in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly, “During the Flight I gave permission to Eliminate the Head of Hezbollah’s Aerial Force, and he was Eliminated. Our Policy is clear, we continue to hit Hezbollah and we… pic.twitter.com/uJCSaRTgjN
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 26, 2024
Since the beginning of the intensified military campaign, more than 630 people have been killed in Lebanon, with thousands more wounded. The Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah positions, but strikes have affected civilian areas. On Thursday, an Israeli warplane once again struck the outskirts of the capital Beirut, killing at least two people and wounding 15 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israeli officials said that the target of the recent Beirut strike was Muhammad Hussein Sarour, the head of a Hezbollah air force unit, who was killed in the attack.
Footage from the Israeli airstrikes that reported eliminated Muhammad Hussein Sarour, the Head of Hezbollah’s Aerial Forces this morning in Beirut.
One video shows the Israeli perspective of the strike while the other shows the reality on the ground. pic.twitter.com/pfj0Gtsvir
— Wars of the World (@warsoftheworlds) September 26, 2024
Airstrikes continued Thursday night, leading to multiple videos of ammunition and missile depot cookoffs in South Lebanon.
A Massive Explosion and several Rocket Cook-Offs seen, following an Israeli Airstrike on a Hezbollah Weapons Depot near the Town of Aabbassiyeh, in the Tyre District of Southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/WBBdcd0DoY
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 26, 2024
Watch as a strike on a Hezbollah weapons cache causes a rocket to fire and fly uncontrollably. pic.twitter.com/cRpUorhJZj
— OSINT Aggregator (@AggregateOsint) September 24, 2024
Expanded Coverage:
