PM of Lebanon Charges Israel of Ignoring Ceasefire Among Increasing Strikes

Asserting that their increased assaults on Lebanese territory indicate a rejection of efforts at a truce following more than a month of conflict, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced Israel's latest military activities In a statement following nighttime Israeli strikes aimed at Beirut's southern suburbs, Mikati underlined the escalation as evidence of Israel's rejection to participate in diplomatic solutions to the current war.

"The Israeli enemy's renewed expansion of the scope of its aggression on Lebanese regions, its repeated threats to the population to evacuate entire cities and villages, and its renewed targeting of the southern suburbs of Beirut with destructive raids are all indications that confirm the Israeli enemy's rejection of all efforts being made to secure a ceasefire," Mikati said.

Following a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting U.S. officials where talks on a possible accord to bring violence in Lebanon under control dominated, this censure follows. Claiming, "Israeli statements and diplomatic signals that Lebanon received confirm Israel's stubbornness in rejecting the proposed solutions and insisting on the approach of killing and destruction," Mikati said that Israel's diplomatic posture reflects a continuous rejection to consider truce proposals.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, the war has claimed at least 1,829 lives since hostilities erupted on September 23.

On Wednesday, Mikati said that U.S. ambassador Amos Hochstein had indicated a truce could be possible before the November 5 U.S. polls. Concurrently, Hezbollah's new leader said that although no realistic agreement has yet been proposed, the group is ready to agree to a ceasefire with Israel under reasonable terms.