Western diplomats are urgently working to prevent a surge of fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border following a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed at least 12 children and teenagers on Saturday. The incident occurred at a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a Druse Arab town in the occupied Golan Heights.
Israel has attributed the attack to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group that has been attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas. However, Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the incident.
This rocket attack marks the deadliest assault on Israeli-controlled territory since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging missile and rocket fire in October. In response, Israel conducted strikes across Lebanon early yesterday. While the retaliation was significant, it stopped short of a major escalation. Nonetheless, there are fears that the situation could escalate into an all-out war.
Despite the rising tensions, Israeli officials have expressed openness to a diplomatic resolution. A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated yesterday that a full-scale war could still be avoided through the enforcement of a long-standing, but never-implemented, U.N. resolution from 2006. This resolution calls for the creation of a demilitarized zone in southern Lebanon.
On the ground, the town of Majdal Shams is in a state of collective mourning following the attack. “We are still in the nightmare,” said one resident, reflecting the community's grief and shock.
In related developments, negotiators from Israel, Qatar, and the U.S. have met in Rome to resume talks over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The discussions had stalled over key issues, particularly regarding the extent to which Israeli forces would remain in the territory during a truce.
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