Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi has once again announced decisive action against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. “We must continue to put pressure on Hezbollah and inflict further and continuous damage on the enemy, without concessions and without respite for the organization,” the Israeli chief of staff said, according to the army.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already announced at the end of September that Israel would defeat Hezbollah with all its might and would not stop until Israel’s goals, especially the return of Israeli displaced persons to their hometowns in the north of the country, were achieved. Shortly before, a group of states including the USA and Germany had called for a break in fighting in order to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Israel fears that in the event of a ceasefire, Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran, could recover from the heavy blows of the past days and weeks and regroup.

The Israeli army has killed around 440 Hezbollah members in fighting and air strikes since the start of its ground offensive in southern Lebanon, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said. There are 30 commanders among them. The information could not initially be independently verified. Hezbollah is currently not commenting on casualties within its ranks.

Israel’s army also said soldiers had destroyed a 250-meter-long Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon. This was intended for a planned terrorist attack by the militia in northern Israel. In the underground tunnel system there was, among other things, a kitchen and living rooms. According to Hagari, this allowed Hezbollah members to stay underground for longer periods. The tunnel is therefore around 300 meters from the Israeli border. The army also released footage of the underground complex. This information could not initially be independently verified.