Israel's army announced on Monday that it launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, in addition to new strikes in the south of the country.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday night local time that it had conducted a series of airstrikes targeting over 20 Hezbollah infrastructure targets in the Beqaa Valley and multiple locations across southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, rocket launchers and other military facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said in a meeting with senior commanders of the Israeli army that they have the right to attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which is "part of the ceasefire agreement."
He also stressed that the disarmament of Hezbollah is the key to negotiations with Lebanon, which will be facilitated by United States mediation.
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Monday that Hezbollah categorically rejects direct Lebanon-Israel talks, noting that any outcomes from such talks are irrelevant to the group.
"We reject direct negotiations outright," Qassem said in a statement, adding that the talks and their results "do not concern us in any way." He also accused the Lebanese authorities of making humiliating and unnecessary concessions and acting against the interests of the Lebanese people.
He outlined five conditions as the only acceptable path forward: ending Israeli attacks by land, sea and air, Israel's withdrawal from occupied territory, the release of prisoners, the return of displaced residents to their towns and villages, and reconstruction.
Qassem said that Hezbollah would not abandon its weapons and vowed that Israel would not remain on any occupied Lebanese land, adding that the group would not return to the situation that existed before March 2.
Also on Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that a ceasefire was a necessary first step before any subsequent negotiations. He added that his goal was to end the state of war with Israel.
On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel, marking the first such attack since a ceasefire was declared in November 2024. In response, Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Beirut, its southern suburbs, and other areas.
Israel strikes Hezbollah infrastructures in Lebanon
Israel strikes Hezbollah infrastructures in Lebanon
The world-renowned Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) celebrated its 105th anniversary in Beijing on Thursday, with the occasion highlighting the enduring history and fruitful results of health cooperation between China and the United States.
Founded by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1921, PUMCH has grown into a modern, comprehensive hospital integrating medical care, teaching and research, and stands as a living testament to the two countries' people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine.
"Medicine embodies humanity's shared pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. By its very nature, it fosters mutual understanding among people. It is this value consensus that has driven the development of medical exchanges between China and the United States across oceans, forging profound bonds through mutual learning and inspiration," said Zhang Shuyang, president of the hospital, in a speech at a conference in Beijing.
The Rockefeller Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1913 by American industrialist John D. Rockefeller, aimed to improve public health services and medical education. This establishment of PUMCH marked a milestone in the history of medical cooperation between China and the United States.
The conference highlighted the history of medical and health cooperation between the two countries.
"One hundred and five years ago, American and Chinese physicians, scientists and philanthropists made a decision that would dramatically impact the course of medicine, not only in China, but the entire world. The Rockefeller Foundation, partnering with the China Medical Board, invested not in commerce, not in politics, but in people. They brought the Johns Hopkins model of academic medicine to Beijing," said David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China.
According to the American Chamber of Commerce in China, pharmaceutical and medical cooperation between Chinese and American universities, institutions and companies has achieved fruitful results, especially in areas such as rare disease drugs, gene therapy and cancer treatment.
"We've seen the integration of excellence in clinical care and education research and public service. PUMCH remains a living testament to the enduring value of U.S.-China people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine," said Roger I. Glass, president of China Medical Board.
Experts believe that, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, China and the United States can work together to explore the application of digital health technology in remote medical services, medical data management and other scenarios, setting an example for global cooperation in digital healthcare.
China-US health cooperation highlighted as Peking Union Medical College Hospital marks 105th anniversary
