Airstrikes Target Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Northeast Lebanon; Israeli Army Confirms

The Israeli army announced that during airstrikes on Monday afternoon, August 29, in the Baalbek region of northeastern Lebanon, several weapon depots belonging to the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah were targeted. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed to AFP that the Israeli attack on eastern Lebanon and Hezbollah's weapon depots occurred, and the Lebanese Ministry of Health claimed that eight people were injured in these attacks. It is reported that Israel retaliated for the killing of one of its soldiers by Hezbollah by attacking the group's weapon depots. The Israeli army also confirmed that in a drone strike early Monday in Deir Qanoun in southern Lebanon, Hussein Ali Hussein, 'a prominent member of Hezbollah's missile unit,' was eliminated. The Israeli army added that it attacked 'another Hezbollah cell' in a building in Taybeh using fighter jets. On August 27, Israel also reported an attack on a Hezbollah weapon depot in southern Lebanon. Clashes between Hezbollah and Israel began on October 8, a day after a terrorist attack by Hamas, another proxy group of the Islamic Republic, on northern Israel. Most of the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have occurred in border areas, but Israel has repeatedly targeted this group's positions deep within Lebanon. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated in recent weeks following a rocket attack by Hezbollah on northern Israel that killed 12 children and teenagers. Following this attack, Israel eliminated Foad Shukr, Hezbollah's top commander, on August 9 in Beirut. The killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, in the early hours of August 10 in Tehran, has also been attributed to Israel. Unlike its acceptance of responsibility for the deadly attack on Foad Shukr, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the attack on Ismail Haniyeh. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah have vowed not to leave these two deadly attacks unanswered. In response, Israel has warned that any party that attacks the country will have to pay a heavy price. Blinken: Israel agreed to the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The Israeli prosecution accused a citizen of the country of having connections with an agent of the Islamic Republic. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's commitment to the U.S. proposal for the release of hostages during a meeting with Blinken. Lufthansa extended the suspension of its flights to Tehran. The U.S. is working for a ceasefire in Gaza; Hamas considers the terms of the agreement close to Israel's demands. The Israeli attack on Hezbollah's weapon depot left 10 dead and 5 injured.