Mitsotakis Backs Lebanon Ceasefire as Israel Rejects Calls, Strikes Beirut

New York/Beirut - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has joined international calls for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon amidst escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

This statement of support came during a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the UN General Assembly in New York. Mitsotakis stressed the urgent need for de-escalation to prevent the conflict from engulfing the region.

However, Israel, defying pleas from global powers including its key ally the US, has rejected ceasefire calls and continues its offensive against Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes, the heaviest since the 2006 war, have killed hundreds in Lebanon, sparking fears of a wider regional war.

Overnight and into Thursday, Israeli strikes, including one near the heart of Beirut, claimed the lives of 28 people in Lebanon. The Beirut attack killed two and injured 15, with one woman in critical condition. According to security sources, the strike targeted and killed Mohammad Surur, a high-ranking Hezbollah air force unit commander, marking the latest in a series of assassinations targeting the group's leadership.

While Israel asserts its commitment to securing its northern border and facilitating the return of evacuated citizens, its aggressive stance has dampened hopes for a swift resolution. This is despite Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati's earlier expression of hope for a ceasefire.

The international community, led by the US, France, and other allies, has urged an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border, also advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed his intention to meet with Israeli officials, including Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, to discuss the crisis.

Meanwhile, the situation in Lebanon grows increasingly dire. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes as Israeli airstrikes continue unabated. The Lebanese health ministry reported that a significant number of Thursday's casualties were Syrian refugees residing in the Bekaa Valley town of Younine, highlighting the conflict's devastating impact on vulnerable populations.

The escalating violence has prompted neighboring countries, including Turkey, to prepare for the potential evacuation of their citizens and other foreign nationals from Lebanon.

As the death toll mounts and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community grapples with finding a path to de-escalation and a lasting solution to the conflict.