Israel has vowed to make Hezbollah 'pay the price' following a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that resulted in the tragic deaths of 12 children. The incident has raised concerns of escalating tensions and the possibility of a wider conflict in the region.
Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack, which Israel has attributed to the Lebanese militant group. In response, Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets both within Lebanese territory and along the border.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during a visit to the affected town of Majdal Shams, promised a strong response, holding Hezbollah accountable for the attack. The strike, which saw approximately 30 projectiles launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, targeted a soccer field where children and teenagers were playing.
The Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, remains a contentious area under international law. The region is home to Druze Arabs and Israeli Jewish settlers, with most Druze residents identifying as Syrian and rejecting Israeli citizenship.
Recent exchanges of rocket fire between Israel and Hezbollah, following earlier attacks by Hamas, have heightened tensions in the region. While Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams, Israel's retaliatory airstrikes have further strained the situation.
Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah, cautioned Israel against further actions targeting Lebanon, emphasizing that Israel lacks moral authority to pass judgment on the incident. The statement from Iran underscores the volatile nature of the situation and the potential for broader conflict.
As the region remains on edge, the international community closely watches developments, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
