Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon, Killing 10 Before Antony Blinken’s Visit

On August 17, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an overnight assault in southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals. This escalation in violence comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares for his upcoming visit to Israel on Saturday.

The IDF stated that the strike was aimed at a Hezbollah weapons depot located in Wadi al-Kfour, an area within the Nabatieh province characterized by both industrial sites and residential communities.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, among those killed were a mother and her two young children. This attack marks the deadliest incident since the recent outbreak of hostilities that began on October 8, which has seen Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire almost daily.

In response to the strike, Hezbollah launched 55 rockets into northern Israel. While these attacks ignited several fires, reports indicate that they did not result in any injuries.

Additionally, a separate drone strike in the southern Lebanon city of Tyre led to the fatality of a motorcyclist.

These military actions unfold just before Secretary Blinken’s scheduled trip to Israel, where he intends to negotiate a cease-fire agreement concerning the ongoing situation in Gaza. His visit also aims to facilitate the release of hostages being held by Hamas, which includes at least eight U.S. citizens.

In his discussions, Blinken hopes to establish a framework for peace that would mitigate the risk of retaliatory actions against Israel following the recent targeted killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut.

As the conflict continues, the situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with reports from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry stating that over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the outbreak of hostilities. The United Nations estimates the population of Gaza to be over 2.2 million, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the region.