The Israeli military confirmed on Sunday that the rocket attack which resulted in the deaths of 12 children and a teenager in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday deserves a response.
Military spokesperson Avichai Adraee told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that the Majdal Shams attack has significant consequences and implications, emphasizing that there are several plans to respond to the attack attributed to Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah alone possesses the ‘Falq 1’ rocket that was launched at Majdal Shams,” he continued.
“Hezbollah is dragging Lebanon into dangerous turns.”
In response, Hezbollah has evacuated its positions in the south and east of Lebanon following Israeli threats of a “strong response” to Saturday’s attack in the Syrian Golan.
A source close to Hezbollah told Agence France-Presse, “The party evacuated positions in the south and the Bekaa which it believes could be natural targets for Israel.”
Hezbollah’s presence is concentrated in the Bekaa region along the Syrian border, and in southern Lebanon where it exchanges almost daily shelling with Israel since the start of the war in Gaza between the Israeli military and Hamas.
In early June, Hezbollah evacuated sites following intense Israeli targeting in Syria, according to the Observatory.
The attack on the town of Majdal Shams prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return early from the United States, his office stating he went directly to a meeting of the security cabinet upon arrival.
Netanyahu stated, “Israel will not let this attack pass without response, and Hezbollah will pay a heavy price it has not paid before.”
Hezbollah denied responsibility for the rocket attack on the town of Majdal Shams on Saturday.
The escalation along the border since last October has resulted in at least 527 deaths in Lebanon, according to an Agence France-Presse count, mostly fighters, but including at least 104 civilians.
On the Israeli side, 22 military personnel and 24 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.
