Israel's attacks on Hezbollah and Helene devastation in Southeast: Morning Rundown

Israel's recent attacks on Hezbollah expose weaknesses in Iran's proxy strategy. Communities from Florida to North Carolina grapple with the devastation from Helene. And the Baltimore Ravens' Derrick Henry delivers a standout performance in Week 4 of the NFL season.

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Israel's attacks on Hezbollah exposes weaknesses in Iran's 'axis of resistance' In a matter of weeks, Israel has dealt devastating blows to Iran's most important proxy, Hezbollah. Airstrikes continued over the weekend, destroying multiple weapons depots. And on Saturday, Israel announced that its forces killed Hezbollah's powerful and longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Earlier this month, Israel also sabotaged the group's communications and took out multiple senior figures.

For Iran, Hezbollah was supposed to be the cornerstone of its strategy to outflank superior adversaries, such as Israel, with armed proxies. In addition to Hezbollah, Iran equipped groups in Gaza, Iraq, Syria and Yemen with an arsenal of rockets and missiles in hopes of steadily weakening Israel and the U.S.

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But Iran's strategy, dubbed the "axis of resistance," underestimated how Israel would respond to the Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7 and subsequent cross-border rocket fire from Hezbollah. Tehran also overestimated the strength of its proxy network, former intelligence officers and counterterrorism analysts said.

"Basically, their whole calculation has been torn to shreds," terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman said. "For Israel, this is a stunning turnaround from the events of almost a year ago."

Not only have Israel's recent attacks exposed the weaknesses in Iran's proxy strategy; it also has presented Tehran and Hezbollah with a vexing question. How — and when — should they retaliate, as they've promised to do, without suffering more setbacks?

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Helene leaves a trail of destruction in the Southeast The devastation from Helene came into clearer view over the weekend, with residents in the Southeast reeling from the storm's impact. Flooding, road closures and power outages remain in hard-hit areas.

In North Carolina, at least 30 people died in Buncombe County, Sheriff Quentin Miller said. Many residents of Asheville were without water, power and gas and said they expect to remain that way for weeks. In Tennessee, efforts are underway to find people who remained unaccounted for amid cellphone and other communications outages. More than 150 people were unaccounted for, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Sunday. In Florida, at least 190 people had been rescued in the hurricane's aftermath, according to a Sunday update from the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Former President Donald Trump is expected to visit hard-hit Valdosta, Georgia, today, where at least 17 people have died in the storm.

NBC News reporters are on the ground and talking to officials and residents about what comes next. for updates.

Highlights from Week 4 of the NFL Baltimore running back Derrick Henry set the tone for the Ravens' "Sunday Night Football" match against the Buffalo Bills, capping an exciting day of nail-biters and standout performances. NBC News' sports team reviews highlights from Week 4 of the 2024 season

The previously undefeated Buffalo Bills never led in a prime-time loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Now, only the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks remain unbeaten one month into the NFL season. Kansas City moved to 4-0 by rallying from 10 points down to beat Los Angeles. Minnesota (4-0) jumped out to a 28-0 lead, and then barely hung on to outlast Green Bay, 31-29. Seattle (3-0) will fight to stay undefeated in tonight's game against the Detroit Lions.

Kansas City won its fourth consecutive game to start the season in a fourth-consecutive nail-biter, winning 17-10 against the Charges in Los Angeles. All four of the Chiefs' wins have come within seven points or fewer. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 19 passes to seven different receivers for 345 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tight end Travis Kelce caught seven passes for 89 yards. All this without wide receiver Rashee Rice, who left the game in the first half with a leg injury.

The Washington Commanders are a surprising division leader in the NFC East at 3-1 after Sunday's 42-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals. All credit goes to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who continued what has been a record-setting start to his pro career.

Derrick Henry ran untouched for 87 yards on the first play for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Henry set a new franchise record for longest run and set the tone for the entire game where the Ravens were in complete control against the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills.

Politics in Brief On the campaign trail: After a slow start this summer, former President Donald Trump is "double-timing" his campaign schedule . At a rally yesterday in Pennsylvania, he lobbed personal attacks at Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her "mentally impaired" and suggesting she should be "prosecuted" for her actions related to the southern border. Harris, at a speech in Las Vegas hours after Trump falsely claimed she wanted to legalize fentanyl, said she would "double" Justice Department resources to crack down on cartels and cut the flow of the drug into the country.

Reparations: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a handful of bills last week tied to efforts to issue race-based reparations to the state's Black residents and their descendants. Advocates hoping for a more substantial investment were sorely disappointed

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She's heavily favored to win Delaware's only House seat in November, and, if she does, she will become the country's first openly transgender member of Congress. However, McBride doesn't talk much about her potential historic first. Rather, she wants to create real change in a "dysfunctional" Congress. Those closest to her think she can. Jo Yurcaba, NBC OUT reporter

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