Hezbollah drone chief killed as Netanyahu vows to strike Lebanon with full force

In a major escalation of the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue “full force” military strikes against Hezbollah until the militant group halts its rocket fire.

Netanyahu’s stance dampened hopes for a cease-fire proposal put forth by US and European officials, who have been pushing for a temporary halt in fighting and to avert an all-out war.

On Thursday, Israel launched a strike in Beirut, killing senior Hezbollah commander Mohammed Hussein Surour.

In New York for the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to targeting Hezbollah. “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force,” he stated. “And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes.”

Despite Israel’s hardline position, the US and France continued their efforts to negotiate a 21-day ceasefire. Top diplomats, including US Mideast envoy Brett McGurk and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are engaged in ongoing discussions with Israeli officials to consider the proposed truce.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said Israel was fully informed about the ceasefire proposal, while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope that Tel Aviv’s rejection was not final. “It would be a mistake by the prime minister to refuse it because he would be taking responsibility for regional escalation,” Macron said.

At a General Assembly meeting, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib appealed to the UN for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the situation is “threatening the very existence” of Lebanon.

Israel announced the killing of Hezbollah drone commander Mohammed Hussein Surour in a “precise” strike on Beirut, which the militant group later confirmed. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the strike resulted in at least two deaths and 15 injuries.

In response to Israeli strikes, Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel, with over 45 missiles fired on Thursday, all of which were either intercepted or landed in unpopulated areas.

In London, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concerns about the risk of full-scale war in the region but remained optimistic about a diplomatic solution. “Israel and Lebanon can choose a different path… a diplomatic solution is still viable,” Austin stated.

The cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in devastating humanitarian consequences. Nearly 700 people have been killed in Lebanon this week alone in Israeli strikes.

The violence has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. Over 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the recent escalation, adding to a total of 200,000 displaced individuals since the conflict began.

Israel’s military has been conducting extensive airstrikes, targeting Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including munitions storage facilities and missile launch sites. The militant group has vowed to continue its “battle without limits” in response to Israeli actions.