On Sunday, Israel’s security cabinet gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration the authority to determine the “manner and timing” of its retaliation following a deadly rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 youths. Both Israel and the U.S. have attributed the attack to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
The attack occurred in Majdal Shams, marking the most severe incident in Israeli or Israeli-annexed territories since a Hamas-initiated attack on October 7, which escalated into the ongoing Gaza war. This conflict has widened to several fronts, heightening concerns about a potential regional war.
Following the incident, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on targets in southern Lebanon. Despite this, there were anticipations of a more substantial Israeli response post the security meeting led by Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
The White House reinforced the accusation against Hezbollah for the Majdal Shams attack. Concurrently, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized her steadfast support for Israel’s security.
The U.S. is actively seeking a diplomatic resolution with Israeli and Lebanese officials to prevent further escalation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns about escalating the conflict, which has already seen daily clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The UK and Egypt have also voiced apprehensions about the situation worsening into a broader conflict. Meanwhile, in the Golan Heights, thousands mourned the victims in Majdal Shams, a village predominantly inhabited by the Druze community.
Although Hezbollah acknowledged launching rockets at Israeli military sites in the Golan on the same day, it denied any involvement in the civilian attack. Israel, however, insists that the rocket was Iranian-made and launched from an area under Hezbollah control, suggesting an Iranian-backed operation.
The ongoing tension between Israel and Hezbollah continues to be fraught, with potential implications for wider regional stability.
