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The United States on Sunday blamed the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group for a rocket attack in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights that killed 12 children and teenagers.
"This attack was carried out by the Lebanese group Hezbollah. It was their missile and it was launched from an area controlled by them," the White House said in a statement on Sunday. The statement said that since Saturday's attack, Washington has engaged Israeli and Lebanese officials in talks.
Israel also blamed Hezbollah and said it would deal a major blow to the Iran-backed group after the attack on a soccer field in the town of Majdal Shams. The Hezbollah group has denied any responsibility.
The White House said Washington is pushing for a diplomatic solution to end attacks on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Thousands of people attended funeral services on Sunday for 12 children and teenagers killed by a rocket attack in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Israel described the attack as the deadliest since the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war.
"What we need to do is respond with full force, release the hostages and stop this war. Enough with sacrificing the blood of our children," said Hithami, a resident of the village where Saturday's attack took place.
Today the Israeli army announced that overnight it carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
At least 30 rockets were then fired from Lebanon across the border, the Israeli military said.
Israeli authorities have vowed that the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group will pay a heavy price after Saturday's attack on the Golan Heights. The victims of the attack were part of the Druze community, a religious sect that began as an offshoot of Shiite Islam but is loyal to the Israeli state.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981.
All of the victims of Saturday's attack were youths between the ages of 10 and 20. Another 20 were wounded, according to the Israeli military.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that he was saddened by the loss of life and said that reaching a ceasefire agreement on the war in Gaza could help calm the situation on Israel's border with Lebanon.
"We are holding talks with the government of Israel and I want to emphasize the right to protect its citizens and our determination to make sure they are able to do so. But we also do not want to see the escalation of the conflict. This has been one of our goals since day one, from October 7 onwards," said Secretary Blinken.
However, a stronger Israeli response is expected after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns from his visit to the United States and a meeting of the security cabinet is expected to be held in the evening hours.
A stronger response than that overnight was also warned on Sunday by the Israeli defense minister.
"This is a terrible tragedy, innocent boys and girls were killed. Hezbollah is responsible and will pay a price," said Minister Gallant.
The Lebanese government has asked the United States to call for restraint from Israel, the Reuters news agency reported citing Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
He also announced that Washington had asked Lebanon's government to convey a message to Hezbollah to show restraint as well.
Iran warned Israel on Sunday against what it called a new adventure in Lebanon, in a statement issued by foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.
During a ceremony in support of Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated the Islamic republic's stance on Israel.
"The regime of Israel is not a state, it is a criminal gang, it is a gang of murderers and terrorists," Mr. Khamenei said.
Hezbollah is the most powerful of a network of Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. The Lebanese group began opening a second front against Israel shortly after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
Other Iranian-backed groups are in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. All have carried out attacks on Israel./ VOA
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