Netanyahu opposes “unilateral” ceasefire in Lebanon

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out ordering a “unilateral” ceasefire in Lebanonalleging that this would not prevent a regrouping on the border of Hezbollah militiamen, who this Wednesday (10/16/2024) claimed responsibility for launching 50 rockets against northern Israel.

In a speech, Hezbollah’s number two, Naim Qasem, stated on Tuesday that “the solution” to end the war in Lebanon is “a ceasefire,” and assured that his movement will not be “defeated” by the army. Israeli.

“Since the Israeli enemy targeted all of Lebanon, we have the rightfrom a defensive position, to target any place” in Israel, “be it the center, the north or the south,” Qasem noted.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he opposed a “unilateral ceasefire, which does not change[ría] the security situation in Lebanon” and that “it would not prevent Hezbollah from rearming and regrouping” in the south of the country, during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Hezbollah claims responsibility for rocket barrage

The pro-Iranian movement claimed responsibility for an attack of 50 rockets that occurred early this Wednesday against northern Israel.

The Israeli Army reported that The rockets were directed towards the Safed areain the north of the territory, so minutes before alarms sounded to alert the population.

“Some of the projectiles were intercepted and fallen projectiles were identified in the area,” the Israeli authorities stated on their Telegram channel.

So far there are no reports of victims in the area.

For its part, the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, indicating that it was retaliation for the Israeli invasion.

“In support of our resistant Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, in support of their brave and honorable resistance, in defense of Lebanon (…), Islamic Resistance fighters bombed the occupied city at 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from Safed with a large barrage of rockets,” they indicated on the Islamic Resistance Telegram and which was also reported by local media.

“A great salvo of missiles” against Safed

The Shiite militia also claimed that it fired rockets at several regions in northern Israel, including Haifa and Safed, and that it shot down two Israeli drones.

Hezbollah said it had launched “a large salvo of missiles” at the town of Safed.

Amid the conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israelis continue to prepare a response to Iran’s October 1 missile attack.

Netanyahu affirmed that his country will decide alone, based on its “national interest,” what will be the objectives of an eventual attack against Iran, after the US president, Joe Bidenwill urge him not to target oil or nuclear sites.

Keep reading:

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