Israeli jets launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon overnight, as diplomats urgently sought to prevent a wider regional conflict following a deadly rocket attack in the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children.
Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, visited the site of the rocket attack in Majdal Shams, a predominantly Druze village, and described the incident as "a terrible tragedy." The attack claimed the lives of 12 children, aged 10 to 16, who were playing football, and injured many others.
Gallant stated on Sunday, "Hezbollah is responsible for this attack, and they will pay the price," as thousands gathered in the village for the victims' funerals. The Israeli foreign ministry also accused the Lebanese militant group of deliberately targeting civilians, saying they had "crossed all red lines."
Hezbollah, however, denied involvement, alleging that a projectile from Israel's Iron Dome defense system, countering a barrage of rockets they claimed were aimed at Israeli military targets, had struck the town.
In apparent retaliation for the attack, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes on towns in southern Lebanon overnight, including an area near the Bekaa Valley.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene his security cabinet on Sunday afternoon to discuss the situation. The meeting's outcome is seen as critical, as international efforts intensify to prevent further escalation that could lead to a broader regional conflict.
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