ISRAEL: In a dramatic move, Israel's security cabinet has granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the authority to determine the timing and method of retaliation against Hezbollah following a devastating rocket attack. The attack, which occurred on Saturday evening, targeted the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and resulted in the tragic deaths of 12 children and teenagers from the Druze community. Hezbollah has denied any involvement.

The incident marks the deadliest cross-border clash in recent months amid ongoing skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah. The attack has intensified fears that current hostilities, which have been relatively contained, might escalate into a full-scale war.

The White House has urged Israel to exercise restraint, emphasizing ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the conflict. It stated that discussions with both Israeli and Lebanese officials are ongoing and that efforts are being made to establish a lasting resolution along the Blue Line, the unofficial boundary between Israel and Lebanon.

On Monday morning, an Israeli drone strike near the Lebanese town of Shaqra, approximately 6.5 kilometers from the Israeli border, reportedly killed two individuals. Lebanon's state media reported the incident, but Israel has not yet commented.

In Majdal Shams, the funerals of the young victims were held on Sunday, drawing thousands of mourners. The attack represents the most severe assault on the Druze community, which has lived on the Golan Heights for centuries. The Druze community, which speaks Arabic and is found in Lebanon, Syria, the Golan Heights, and northern Israel, has faced continued strife since the 1967 Six-Day War when Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria. Although many Druze in the area retain allegiance to Syria, approximately 20% have accepted Israeli citizenship.

The attack has ignited outrage across Israel and among the Druze community, which includes around 110,000 individuals residing in Israel. In response, Netanyahu returned to Israel early from a visit to the US and convened an emergency security cabinet meeting. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s office released a statement indicating that the cabinet authorized Netanyahu and Gallant to decide on the retaliation strategy against Hezbollah.

In a call to the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Ṭarif, Netanyahu vowed that Hezbollah would face severe consequences. Hezbollah, however, has strongly refuted accusations, attributing the attack to a failed Israeli interceptor missile.

Israeli military Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi confirmed that the rocket used in the attack was a Falaq model, known for its destructive capability and fired from a Hezbollah position. He emphasized that such attacks are intended to target civilians and children.

The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified following Hezbollah's rocket attacks in response to the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, continues to evolve as both sides navigate the escalating tensions.

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