There's 'every indication' Hezbollah fired rocket that killed 12 children in Israeli Golan Heights, says Blinken

Supporting the Israeli stand, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that there is “every indication” that the rocket that killed 12 children in Israel-controlled Golan Heights was fired by Hezbollah.

On Saturday, a rocket fired from Lebanon hit a football field in the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights in northern Israel. At least 12 children were killed and more than 30 were injured. Even though Hezbollah has been attacking Israel on a nearly-daily basis since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War after the October 7 terrorist attack, the Majdal Shams attack is the deadliest in the ongoing fighting.

Shortly after the attack, Israel said the rocket had been fired by Hezbollah, but the Iran-backed terrorist group denied firing it .

Now, Blinken has said the United States believes the rocket was indeed fired by Hezbollah.

“Every indication is that indeed the rocket was from Hezbollah. We stand by Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks,” said Blinken, as per AFP.

‘We don’t want any escalation’

While Blinken backed the Israeli assessment that Hezbollah had fired the rocket, he also said that the United States does not wish for any escalation.

Blinken’s comment came as the attack has fuelled fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.

“We’re in conversations with the government of Israel. And again, I emphasise its right to defend its citizens and our determination to make sure that they’re able to do that, but We also don’t want to see the conflict escalating. We don’t want to see a spread. That has been one of our goals from day one, from October 7 on, and we’ll continue to do that,” said Blinken, as per AFP.

Since the October 7 attack, Israel and Hezbollah have clashed on a nearly-daily basis. On multiple occasions, they have come close to an all-out war as the continued Hezbollah attacks in northern Israel have displaced several thousand Israelis for months. Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon have also killed hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists. Hezbollah rocket barrages in northern Israel have at times set large swathes of territories ablaze and threatened to plunge Israel into a two-front war.

Blinken further said that “far too many lives” lives have been lost in the ongoing conflict and the best way to stop it is to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He added that they were “working so hard on virtually every minute of the day” for the ceasefire.

‘Hezbollah will pay price’: Israel vows retribution

Shortly after the attack, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the attack crossed “all red lines” and that Israel and Hezbollah were approaching an all-out war.

“The Hezbollah attack today crossed all red lines, and the response will be accordingly. We are approaching the moment of an all-out war against Hezbollah and Lebanon,” said Katz to journalist Barak Ravid.

Within hours of the attack, Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah sites within Lebanon, but that does not appear to be the end of it.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah will pay a “heavy price” for its deeds. He said this on a visit to the Majdal Shams town. The town is populated by the Druze community, a unique Arab community that follows a distinct religion. The community forms 2 per cent of Israel’s population and is largely centred in Galilee, Carmel, and the Golan Heights.

“Hezbollah is responsible for this and they will pay the price. We will hit the enemy hard,” said Gallant.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States when the attack occurred, has also arrived in Israel and is set to convene his security cabinet to work out a course of action. He held security consultations before his departure from the United States as well.

In a message in Hebrew on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu said that Hezbollah will be made to pay an unprecedented price for the attack.

“The entire nation of Israel sends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the murdered and to the entire Druze community. Israel will not put the murderous attack on the agenda. Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for this that it has not paid so far,” said Netanyahu, as per a translation of the post.