A wave of diplomatic efforts is in progress to manage an anticipated Israeli retaliation against Hezbollah, according to Lebanon's leading diplomat. This follows an incident where an attack, attributed to the group, resulted in civilian casualties in the Golan Heights. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared on Sunday that a strong counterattack against the enemy was imminent after rocket attacks from Lebanon claimed the lives of 12 minors, sparking concerns that the conflict in Gaza might escalate. Israel has implicated Lebanon's Hezbollah, claiming they launched an Iranian-made Falaq-1 rocket, although the group, known for frequently targeting Israeli military sites, denied any involvement in the incident.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib revealed in an interview with Al-Jadeed that the United States, France, and other nations are actively working to prevent the situation from worsening. He stated, "Israel will escalate its actions to a limited extent, and Hezbollah will respond similarly... These are the assurances we have been given." Additionally, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed ongoing discussions with international, European, and Arab entities to safeguard Lebanon and avert potential threats.
The rocket attack in Majdal Shams, a predominantly Arabic-speaking Druze community, led to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cutting short his visit to the United States. The White House identified Lebanese Hezbollah as the perpetrator of the fatal rocket attack. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, also mentioned that the US has maintained constant communication with both Israel and Lebanon since the attack. Hezbollah has engaged in frequent cross-border exchanges with Israel in solidarity with Hamas, following the militant group's assault on southern Israel in October, which ignited the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The group has reportedly withdrawn from positions in southern and eastern Lebanon in response to Israeli threats of retaliation, according to a source close to Hezbollah. The ongoing cross-border hostilities since October have claimed at least 527 lives in Lebanon, predominantly fighters but also including 104 civilians, according to AFP statistics. In Israel, the toll stands at 22 soldiers and 24 civilians, as reported by Israeli authorities.
