Israel vows to hit Hezbollah hard after rocket kills 12 on football field

Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the deadliest strike in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the Gaza conflict

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Israeli security forces and medical workers transport casualties from the site of a rocket strike in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:49am, 28 Jul 2024Updated: 3:12am, 29 Jul 2024

Israel convened its security cabinet on Sunday to discuss responding to a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children, and which Israel and the United States blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Hamas’ October 7 assault sparked the war in Gaza, which has since spread to several fronts and now risks spilling into a wider regional conflict.

Israeli jets hit targets in southern Lebanon overnight but a stronger response was expected following the return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his US visit and a meeting of the security cabinet expected at 4pm local time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday. Photo: Abaca Press / TNS

The White House on Sunday also blamed Hezbollah for the Majdal Shams strike. “This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control,” it said in a statement.