Israel kills Hezbollah drone chief, Rejects proposal for ceasefire

Israel has intensified its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, rejecting proposals for a ceasefire despite growing international pressure. The conflict has seen its deadliest week since the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War, raising fears of a wider regional conflagration. The Isreli air strike in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh targeted the head of Hezbollah’s aerial forces, Mohammed Srur, who is largely responsible for the terror group’s drone fleet along with cruise missiles and aerial defenses.Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed in the attack. Hezbollah confirmed Srur’s death in a statement released early Friday.
Following the assassination of Srur, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said the military must continue to strike the terror group.“We need to continue attacking Hezbollah. We have been waiting for this opportunity for years,” Halevi said following an assessment, in remarks provided by the IDF, hinting that the military is against a ceasefire at this stage.Also Thursday, Israelis warplanes targeted 220 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley throughout the day, and Hezbollah fired over 175 rockets at northern Israeli cities. These strikes have resulted in over 600 casualties so far and displaced nearly 90,000 civilians from their homes.The IDF said several of the rockets were intercepted and the rest landed in open areas. Videos showed some projectiles splashing into the Mediterranean Sea.

תיעוד יוצא דופן: 25 רקטות שוגרו לעכו, נפילה אחר נפילה בים במהלך המטח @_Gitsis_

צילום: לפי חוק 27א' pic.twitter.com/yP4u1BW6On

— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) September 26, 2024

Lebanese officials said an overnight Israeli airstrike on a building housing Syrian workers and their families killed up to 23 people near Baalbek on the Lebanon-Syria border, marking one of the deadliest single strikes reported in the intensified air campaign against the Hezbollah terror group.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered full force operations in Lebanon, defying the U.S. push for a 21 day cease-fire. The intense pressure on Iran-backed Hezbollah, including assassinations of senior commanders, has raised concerns about the conflict spreading across the region. Meanwhile, The Israeli army staged an exercise simulating a ground invasion near the Lebanese border. The Israeli Military Chief of Staff has hinted at the possibility of a ground incursion into Lebanon, further heightening tensions in the region.Hezbollah says at least 512 of its fighters have been killed since fighting began on October 8. The IDF believes this toll to be much higher.