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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

Ceasefire under strain: Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander; strikes continue

Israel claimed that it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander and struck rocket-launcher in southern Lebanon as ceasefire negotiations remained in limbo.

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The Israeli military claimed that Abd Harb, a commander in Hezbollah's engineering unit, was killed in an air strike last week, as cited by Al Jazeera.

However, the Lebanese group has not confirmed the killing.

According to the Israeli army X post, Harb was involved in assembling and activating explosives targeting Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon and had participated in attacks against Israel since the 2006 Lebanon war. Hezbollah has not confirmed the reported killing.

Lebanon remains under attack

The latest strikes come amid continuing cross-border hostilities despite diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Israel's military also said it carried out overnight air strikes on a rocket launcher that it claimed had been used by Hezbollah to fire at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.

‘No ceasefire’: Netanyahu, Hezbollah both reportedly rejects agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told a security cabinet meeting that no agreement had yet been approved by the Israeli government.

According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu said Hezbollah remained opposed to the proposed ceasefire arrangement, preventing a final decision.

"There is currently no agreement; Hezbollah is opposed, and therefore I am not making a decision. If they agree, I will bring it to your approval," Netanyahu was quoted as saying.

His statement came after Hezbollah rejected the ceasefire proposal amid continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Trump claimed to initiate ceasefire

US President Donald Trump earlier had claimed that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to halt attacks following indirect talks through intermediaries.

Posting on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said he had spoken with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, through “highly placed representatives”, Hezbollah.

“I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” he wrote.

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