Rising Tensions: Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates Amid Diplomatic Efforts

Israel's military broadened airstrikes in Lebanon to target Hezbollah, prompting warnings of escalation from world leaders. Diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. and its allies are underway to halt conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon. Despite airstrikes and rocket fire, significant progress in mediation remains elusive.

Israel's military chief announced on Wednesday that airstrikes in Lebanon would persist to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, potentially preceding a ground operation by Israeli forces. Concurrently, U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives aim to cease hostilities in both Gaza and Lebanon, with proposals being developed at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

On Wednesday, Israel expanded its airstrikes in Lebanon and intercepted a missile that Hezbollah claimed was aimed at Mossad's headquarters near Tel Aviv. 'You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day,' stated General Herzi Halevi to Israeli troops near the Lebanon border, as per an official military statement.

'This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.' World leaders voiced concerns about the conflict's rapid escalation, paralleling Israel's war in Gaza against the Iranian-backed Palestinian Hamas, with rising fatalities in Lebanon and mass displacement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Washington and its allies are striving to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Sources close to the negotiations, including Lebanese officials and Western diplomats, indicated that the U.S. is spearheading a new diplomatic initiative addressing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon.

Israeli and Western sources revealed that the U.S. and France are working on ceasefire proposals to de-escalate the conflict in Lebanon, initially instigated by Hezbollah's support for Hamas. Despite these efforts, no significant progress has been achieved yet. 'The risk of escalation is acute ... Diplomacy is the best answer, and our coordinated efforts are essential,' Blinken stated during a meeting with Gulf Arab officials in New York.

This week's Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah leaders and numerous sites across Lebanon, while Hezbollah's rocket attacks sent thousands of Israelis fleeing the border regions. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of Lebanese casualties.

(With inputs from agencies.)