Israel vows to hit Hezbollah hard after rocket kills 12 on football field
- Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the deadliest strike in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the Gaza conflict
Israel convened its security cabinet on Sunday to discuss responding to a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children, and which Israel and the United States blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The White House on Sunday also blamed Hezbollah for the Majdal Shams strike. “This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control,” it said in a statement.
The US said Washington has been in discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since Saturday’s attack, which it condemned and described as “horrific”, and that it was working on a diplomatic solution.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington stood by Israel’s right to defend itself, but that it did not want further escalation of the conflict, which has seen daily exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah along the border.
Britain expressed concern at further escalation while Egypt said the attack could spill “into a comprehensive regional war”.