By Avi Ohayon and James Mackenzie
MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel’s safety cupboard on Sunday approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities to resolve on the “method and timing” of a response to a rocket strike within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 youngsters and kids, and which Israel and the US blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah denied duty for the assault on Majdal Shams on Saturday, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault sparked the struggle in Gaza. That battle has unfold to a number of fronts and dangers spilling right into a wider regional battle.
Israel has vowed retaliation in opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Israeli jets hit targets in southern Lebanon through the day on Sunday.
However there have been expectations a stronger response might observe the safety cupboard assembly convened by Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
After the assembly ended, Netanyahu’s workplace stated the cupboard “approved the Prime Minister and the Protection Minister to resolve on the way and timing of the response.”
The White Home on Sunday additionally blamed Hezbollah for the Majdal Shams strike. “This assault was carried out by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an space they management,” it stated in an announcement.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, stated by her nationwide safety adviser that her “assist for Israel’s safety is ironclad,”
The U.S. stated Washington has been in discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since Saturday’s “horrific” assault and that it was engaged on a diplomatic answer.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Washington didn’t need additional escalation of the battle, which has seen each day exchanges of fireside between the Israeli army and Hezbollah alongside the border.
Britain expressed concern at additional escalation whereas Egypt stated the assault might spill “right into a complete regional struggle.”
On the bottom, 1000’s of individuals gathered for funerals within the Druze village of Majdal Shams within the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria by Israel within the 1967 Center East struggle and annexed in a transfer not recognised by most international locations.
Members of the Druze religion, which is said to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, make up greater than half the 40,000-strong inhabitants of the Golan Heights. Giant crowds of mourners, many in conventional excessive white and purple Druze headwear, surrounded the caskets as they have been carried by the village.
“A heavy tragedy, a darkish day has come to Majdal Shams,” stated Dolan Abu Saleh, head of the Majdal Shams native council, in feedback broadcast on Israeli tv.
Hezbollah initially introduced it fired rockets at Israeli army websites within the Golan Heights, however stated it had “completely nothing” to do with the assault on Majdal Shams.
ISRAEL SAYS ROCKET IRANIAN-MADE
Nevertheless, Israel stated the rocket was an Iranian-made missile fired from an space north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon, putting the blame squarely on Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
It was not instantly clear if the youngsters and youngsters killed have been Israeli residents.
“The rocket that murdered our girls and boys was an Iranian rocket and Hezbollah is the one terror group which has these in its arsenal,” Israel’s international ministry stated.
Two safety sources advised Reuters that Hezbollah was on excessive alert and had cleared some key websites in each Lebanon’s south and the jap Bekaa Valley in case of an Israeli assault.
Lebanon’s Center East Airways stated it was delaying the arrival of some flights from Sunday evening to Monday morning, with out stating why.
Israeli forces have been exchanging hearth for months with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, however either side have gave the impression to be avoiding an escalation that might result in all-out struggle, doubtlessly dragging in different powers together with the US and Iran.
Nevertheless, Saturday’s strike threatened to tip the standoff right into a extra harmful section. United Nations officers urged most restraint from either side, warning that escalation might “engulf the complete area in a disaster past perception.”
Lebanon has requested the usto urge restraint by Israel, Lebanon’s international minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, advised Reuters. Bou Habib stated the U.S. had requested Lebanon’s authorities to go on a message to Hezbollah to point out restraint as properly.
ALL-OUT WAR FEARED
Iran’s international ministry warned Israel on Sunday in opposition to what it known as any new journey in Lebanon.
Syria’s international ministry stated it held Israel “absolutely chargeable for this harmful escalation within the area” and stated its accusations in opposition to Hezbollah have been false.
The battle has pressured tens of 1000’s of individuals in each Lebanon and Israel to go away their houses. Israeli strikes have killed some 350 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and greater than 100 civilians, together with medics, kids and journalists.
Hezbollah is probably the most highly effective of a community of Iran-backed teams throughout the Center East and opened a second entrance in opposition to Israel shortly after Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel.
Druze communities reside on either side of the road between southern Lebanon and northern Israel in addition to within the Golan Heights and Syria. Whereas some serve within the Israeli army and determine with Israel, many really feel marginalized in Israel and a few additionally reject Israeli citizenship.