Israel strikes Hezbollah weapons depot as U.S. warns of arms cut over Gaza crisis

Israel’s air force has targeted an underground Hezbollah weapons depot in Beirut early Wednesday, marking the first attack on the Lebanese capital in nearly a week. The strike, aimed at a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, occurred hours after Lebanon’s prime minister said the U.S. had assured him Israeli attacks on Beirut would ease.

The airstrike followed a series of escalations, including the deaths of 14 people in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The Israeli military also intercepted approximately 50 Hezbollah projectiles in the latest bout of cross-border fire, underscoring the rising tensions in the region. The U.N. refugee agency reported that Israel has urged civilians to evacuate nearly a quarter of Lebanon, resulting in the displacement of 1.2 million people.

Meanwhile, Gaza faces its own humanitarian crisis, with 1.9 million displaced due to Israel’s escalating conflict with Hamas. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have warned Israel that arms supplies could be limited unless more aid is allowed into Gaza within 30 days. In the past 24 hours, 65 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza health officials.

Israel’s intensified operations against Hezbollah and Hamas, both designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., come amid heightened regional diplomacy. Iran, the primary backer of both groups, is rallying regional support to counter Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Jordanian officials in Amman to discuss “collective action” to halt the war’s expansion, with further diplomatic talks planned in Egypt and Turkey.

As the conflict rages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled Israel’s determination to act decisively, while the U.S. continues to caution against targeting sensitive energy and nuclear sites.