At least 12 people were killed and several others injured in a rocket attack from Lebanon on the Golan Heights on Thursday. The attack, which targeted a residential area in the Israeli-controlled territory, has been condemned by both Israeli and Lebanese officials.
The rocket attack is believed to have been carried out by a Palestinian militant group operating in Lebanon. The group, which has ties to Hezbollah, has been responsible for previous attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the attack, calling it a “grave escalation” and vowing to respond with force. “We will not tolerate attacks on our territory and will take all necessary measures to protect our citizens,” Bennett said in a statement.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also condemned the attack, saying that Lebanon “rejects any violation of its sovereignty and will take all necessary measures to prevent such actions in the future.”
The rocket attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Israeli forces on high alert following recent clashes with Palestinian militants in Gaza. The Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, has been a flashpoint for violence in the past, with both Syria and Hezbollah launching attacks on Israeli targets from the strategic plateau.
The United Nations has called for restraint and for all parties to respect the ceasefire in place along the Israel-Lebanon border. The Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and to call for an end to the violence.
The rocket attack from Lebanon is a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region and the need for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides must work towards de-escalation and dialogue to prevent further bloodshed and loss of life.