As the Middle East teeters on the brink of a wider conflict, U.S. and regional diplomats are working feverishly to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. The urgency of their efforts was underscored yesterday (Saturday) when a rocket strike killed 12 children and teenagers in the Golan Heights, marking the deadliest civilian casualty event in Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of carrying out the attack, which struck a soccer field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams. The Lebanon-based militant group initially denied responsibility but has claimed other attacks in the area. The Israeli military asserts that an Iranian-made Falaq-1 rocket, launched from southern Lebanon, was responsible for the carnage.
The incident has ratcheted up tensions along the already volatile Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that the country is "approaching the moment of an all-out war against Hezbollah and Lebanon," while the Israeli military has already conducted strikes deep into Lebanese territory.
The escalation comes at a critical juncture in U.S.-led efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza. The delicate negotiations, set to resume in Rome this week, could be derailed by any significant escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
For months, both sides have engaged in a carefully calibrated conflict, exchanging cross-border fire while avoiding all-out war. However, Saturday's attack represents exactly the kind of miscalculation that regional experts have long feared could trigger a devastating conflict.
The U.S. National Security Council has condemned the attack and reaffirmed its "iron-clad and unwavering" support for Israel's security. Meanwhile, Iran, Hezbollah's primary backer, has signaled its reluctance for full-scale war but warned against any Israeli response that could further destabilize the region.
The Israeli cabinet will meet later today (Sunday) to discuss its response, while the Druze community in the Golan Heights buries its children in a devastating mass funeral.
* The Wall Street Journal contributed to this article.