Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday promised to retaliate strongly after rocket fire from Lebanon resulted in the death of 12 young people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, raising concerns that the conflict in Gaza could escalate.
Iran warned Israel of potential “unforeseen consequences” if they engage in new military actions in Lebanon.
Israel’s army described the attack as “the deadliest on Israeli civilians” since the conflict began in Gaza on October 7, sparking regular border exchanges with Lebanon.
Although Israel attributed the rocket fire to Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, the Iran-backed group, known for targeting Israeli military installations, denied any involvement in the incident.
The attack occurred shortly after officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza claimed that an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people. Israel defended the strike, stating they were targeting “terrorists” operating from the school.
– Netanyahu’s Early Return –
The rocket attack in Majdal Shams prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short his trip to the United States and convene his security cabinet.
Netanyahu declared that Hezbollah would face severe consequences for the attack, stating that they would pay a price unlike any before.
Israeli authorities stated that Hezbollah had crossed all boundaries with the attack.
Subsequently, Israel’s military reported striking Hezbollah targets in both Lebanese territory and southern Lebanon.
A Lebanese security source reported that an Israeli drone targeted the village of Taraiyya in eastern Lebanon, causing damage to a hangar and a home but no casualties.
Hezbollah justified the cross-border fire as a show of support for Palestinian Islamists from Hamas in their fight against the Israeli military since the initial attack on southern Israel on October 7.
According to official Israeli figures, the initial attack resulted in the death of 1,197 individuals in Israel, mostly civilians.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in retaliation has resulted in the deaths of at least 39,258 people, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
The rocket strike on Majdal Shams, a Druze town, claimed the lives of young people between the ages of 10 and 20, according to Israel’s military.
Gallant visited the scene early Sunday and observed the devastation.
– Plea for Restraint –
The United Nations called for maximum restraint in response to the escalating violence, emphasizing the potential catastrophic consequences of further clashes in the region.
The United States National Security Council condemned the attack on Majdal Shams.
Following the strike in Majdal Shams, Hezbollah launched retaliatory rocket attacks at the Golan Heights and northern Israel after an Israeli strike killed four of their fighters in south Lebanon.
Lebanon’s government urged an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, stressing the need to de-escalate tensions.
Iran’s foreign ministry warned against any actions by Israel that could lead to further instability and conflict in the region.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned Hezbollah for deliberately targeting civilians and referred to the incident in Majdal Shams as a “massacre.”
Majdal Shams, a Druze town, remains a point of contention since Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967.
Since the conflict began in October, at least 527 people have died in Lebanon, with most casualties being fighters but also including civilians.
In Israel, the death toll stands at 18 soldiers and 24 civilians.
– Escalating Tensions –
Tens of thousands of residents in southern Lebanon and northern Israel have been displaced due to the ongoing violence.
In a speech to the United States Congress, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to securing its northern border at all costs.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, expressed willingness to halt cross-border attacks if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
In response to the violence in Gaza, world leaders have called for a political solution to end the ongoing conflict.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with multiple attacks on schools and civilian areas, prompting international outrage and condemnation.
In Khan Yunis, around 170 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in Israeli operations since Monday, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
The region remains on edge as tensions continue to escalate on multiple fronts.
