The Israel-Lebanon conflict continues as Israel ignores the U.S. and France's ceasefire call | WPN World People News

Following its attacks on Gaza, Israel launched strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. On the 26th, 12 countries led by the U.S. and France issued an urgent joint statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border, but this was rejected by Israel. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and Foreign Minister Israel Katz denied agreeing to a ceasefire. On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out 220 airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, rocket launchers, and weapon caches, resulting in at least 92 deaths and over 150 injuries. Hezbollah confirmed that its drone unit commander, Mohammad Surur, was also killed in an Israeli airstrike in the suburbs of Beirut.

In response to the U.S. and French ceasefire proposal, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on the 26th upon his arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, "We will continue to fight Hezbollah with full force until all objectives are achieved." This stance received unanimous support from various factions within Israel. Foreign Minister Katz reiterated, "There will be no ceasefire in the north." Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that ongoing operations against Hezbollah had been approved. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi emphasized at the Israel-Lebanon border that the IDF is preparing for a ground offensive and that airstrikes are being conducted throughout the day to weaken Hezbollah's capabilities while preparing for a possible ground attack.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the current military operations are supported by $8.7 billion in U.S. aid, making it difficult for the U.S. to persuade Israel to cease hostilities. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since the IDF began large-scale airstrikes on the 23rd, nearly 700 people have died, with animosity between the two countries continuing to escalate.