Despite ongoing truce talks between Israel and Hamas, Israel’s airstrike hits Hezbollah arms depot in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.
No casualties have been reported from the strike. However, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that the airstrikes injured eight people, including two Syrian children.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement late Monday night confirming the attack. They targeted Hezbollah’s arms storage facilities in the Bekaa Valley. The strike occurred just hours after an IDF officer was killed in an explosive drone attack on northern Israel.
The slain Israeli officer was identified as Chief Warrant Officer Mahmood Amaria, 45. Additionally, several soldiers were wounded at a military base near Ya’ara in Western Galilee. The IDF noted that secondary explosions were observed after the strike, indicating the presence of large quantities of weapons in the targeted facilities.
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Hezbollah had fired five explosive drones at Israel earlier on Monday. In retaliation, Israel attacked the Hezbollah arms depot. Lebanese state media reported that at least three Israeli airstrikes hit towns in Lebanon’s northeastern Baalbek district.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously vowed to avenge the death of Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah military commander assassinated by Israel on July 30 in Beirut. This was shortly before the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismael Haniyeh.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the American “bridging proposal” regarding the release of hostages. After a three-hour meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem, Netanyahu’s office confirmed his support for the proposal. The statement marked the first time Netanyahu publicly endorsed the latest US plan, which he says addresses Israel’s security needs.