New Delhi: Israel has launched attacks on Hezbollah targets and threatened further retaliation following a deadly rocket strike that killed 12 people. At the same time, Israel has shown openness to a proposed truce in Gaza, which could help de-escalate tensions with Lebanon.
In the deadliest incident for Israeli civilians since Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel on October 7, a rocket exploded in Golan Heights on Saturday, killing 12 people, including children aged 10 to 16, as it struck a football pitch.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of firing an Iranian-made Falaq-1 rocket, although Hezbollah has denied any involvement. This rocket attack has increased concerns about a potential broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised a “heavy price” for Hezbollah, holding multiple meetings with his security cabinet and military chiefs to determine the next steps.
The United States has condemned the attack and called for restraint from all sides, while Iran has warned that any new Israeli military actions in Lebanon could lead to “unforeseen consequences.”
Despite the firm stance against groups committed to its destruction and labeled as terrorists in the West, Israel faces growing domestic pressure to recover hostages. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), heavily reliant on conscripts and reservists, are showing signs of fatigue.
Some senior Israeli officials are reportedly considering a ceasefire in Gaza, which Hezbollah has suggested could prevent further attacks on Israel.
The conflict escalated following Hamas’s October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in southern Israel and the abduction of 250 others to Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 39,000.
Officials from both Israel and Lebanon acknowledge that Hezbollah, with its substantial force of fighters, missiles, and drones, poses a more significant threat than Hamas did before October 7. A full-scale war would likely have devastating consequences for both nations.
