Hezbollah rejects ceasefire talks as Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon 

The leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, has ruled out any negotiations with Israel while fighting continues, describing such talks as a form of “surrender.”

His remarks come as Israel ramps up military operations in Lebanon, including expanding what it calls a security buffer zone along the border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military has already established a “genuine security zone” and is pushing further into Lebanese territory.

“We are simply creating a larger buffer zone,” Netanyahu said, noting the move is aimed at preventing cross-border attacks and missile threats.

Hezbollah said it carried out dozens of attacks on Israeli positions, including missile strikes targeting sites in central Israel, triggering air raid sirens.

Israeli media reported that rockets fired toward central regions were intercepted, while the military confirmed injuries to some of its personnel in southern Lebanon.

The group also claimed to have launched more than 80 attacks in a single day, its highest since the conflict escalated, targeting Israeli troops in multiple border locations.

Amid the intensifying violence, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, urged both sides to halt hostilities.

He warned against replicating the large-scale devastation seen in Gaza, cautioning that continued escalation could lead to widespread displacement in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities reported fresh Israeli strikes across southern regions, including areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

The attacks have left significant destruction, with buildings damaged and communities largely deserted as residents flee.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, over 1,000 people have been killed in recent weeks, including dozens of health workers, while more than one million people have been displaced.

Efforts to initiate dialogue remain stalled, despite calls from Lebanon’s leadership for direct negotiations with Israel.

Qassem, however, insisted that engaging in talks under ongoing military pressure is unacceptable.

“When negotiations are proposed under fire, it is nothing but an imposition of surrender,” he said.

Hezbollah rejects ceasefire talks as Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon