Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again said there is no ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon after he instructed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations.

Israel has stepped up military pressure on Hezbollah with a new wave of air attacks across southern and eastern Lebanon. At least a dozen strikes targeted hills and valleys rather than populated areas, with the Israeli army claiming it hit a Hezbollah training compound for the second time this week.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had elected deputy head Naim Qassem to succeed slain secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburb over a month ago, News.Azreports citing Reuters .

On Wednesday evening, the White House issued a joint statement , endorsed by allies in Europe and Asia as well as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, calling for an immediate 21-day cease-fire across the Israel-Lebanon border, seeking to buy time for diplomacy to avert a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, News.Az reports citing Foreign Policy .

The US warned Israel days before its strikes on the facilities of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah that such actions could lead to war in the region, the Politico newspaper reported citing unnamed US and Israeli officials, News.Az reports.

The military wing of the Shiite movement Hezbollah struck the location of the 188th armored battalion of the Israel Defense Forces using several drones, according to the Al Mayadeen TV channel , News.az reports.