Hezbollah Says Negotiations with Israel Under Fire Are ‘Surrender’ as Conflict Escalates

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem warned on Wednesday that negotiating with Israel while under attack would be tantamount to “surrender” for Lebanon, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces are expanding a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops had “created a genuine security zone” and were extending operations deeper into Lebanon. Hezbollah, in turn, released numerous statements claiming attacks on Israeli positions. Israel, which previously occupied southern Lebanon until 2000, said its forces were attempting to control territory up to the Litani River, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against replicating the “Gaza model” in Lebanon, calling on both sides to halt attacks that disproportionately affect civilians. “Hezbollah must stop launching attacks into Israel. And Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest,” he said.

Hezbollah reported more than 80 attacks on Israel on Wednesday, the highest single-day total since the conflict began, including strikes in nine border towns. Israel said one soldier was seriously injured and another lightly wounded in southern Lebanon, and that rockets targeted Haifa without causing casualties.

Lebanon became embroiled in the conflict on March 2, after Hezbollah retaliated for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Despite calls by Lebanon’s president for direct talks with Israel, the offer was rejected. Hezbollah’s Qassem insisted, “When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, this is an imposition of surrender.”

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported air and artillery strikes in multiple southern locations, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing structural damage. The health ministry confirmed three deaths in Bint Jbeil, more than 1,000 total fatalities, including 42 health workers, and over a million displaced residents.

Hezbollah said its fighters targeted Israeli troops massed in Naqura and Qawzah with “more than 100 rockets.” The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah command centres and weapons storage sites in southern Lebanon and the Beirut suburbs, as well as fuel stations allegedly financing the group.

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