Israel has pledged to respond forcefully after rocket fire from Lebanon resulted in the deaths of 12 young people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, raising concerns that the conflict in Gaza could escalate.
Iran cautioned Israel about any new military actions in Lebanon, warning of “unforeseen consequences”.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the rocket attack and urged all parties to show restraint.
Israel’s army labeled it as “the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians” since the beginning of the current conflict in Gaza on October 7, which has led to regular exchanges of fire along the Lebanese border.
Although Israel attributed the rocket firing to Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and identified it as a Falaq-1 Iranian rocket, Hezbollah denied any involvement in the incident. They did, however, claim responsibility for firing a similar rocket towards an Israeli military target in the Golan on Saturday.
The rocket attack in Majdal Shams, populated by Arabic-speaking Druze, prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return early from the U.S. and convene a security cabinet meeting upon arrival.
Following the meeting, it was stated that “Hezbollah will face a severe consequence, unlike anything it has experienced before.” The cabinet authorized the prime minister and defense minister to determine the nature and timing of the response against Hezbollah, without providing further details.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the attack site and assured that Israel will retaliate aggressively. The foreign ministry of Israel accused Hezbollah of crossing all boundaries.
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In anticipation of an Israeli retaliation, Hezbollah reportedly evacuated several positions near the border and in eastern Lebanon.
Later on Sunday, Israel’s military reported targeting Hezbollah locations both deep inside Lebanese territory and in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli drone struck Taraiyya village in eastern Lebanon, resulting in the destruction of a hangar and a home with no casualties reported, according to a Lebanese security source.
Hezbollah stated that their cross-border fire was in support of Hamas, who have been in conflict with Israel in Gaza since the initial attack on October 7. The attack has resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.
The continuous combat in Gaza has had devastating consequences, with fatalities on both sides. Efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement have so far been unsuccessful.
