Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a “severe” response to the rocket attack that killed 12 children in Majdal Shams, a Druze Arab town in the Golan Heights. The attack has intensified tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been involved in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces since the onset of the Gaza conflict in early October.
Netanyahu’s visit to the site of the attack was met with protests, as the community mourned the death of 11-year-old Guevara Ibrahim. The Israeli government and the United States have attributed the strike to Hezbollah, though the group has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams attack while admitting to multiple strikes on Israeli military positions.
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Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and other international diplomats are working to contain the escalation. Efforts are underway to prevent a broader conflict, with the U.S., France, and other countries involved in mediating the situation.
Hezbollah’s response included launching rockets at Israeli military sites, and the ongoing violence has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Despite ongoing negotiations and mediation efforts, the situation remains tense with continued military operations in Gaza and northern Israel.
