Israel’s security cabinet convened on Sunday evening to discuss potential retaliatory actions against Hezbollah after a rocket strike on Saturday resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Despite international calls for restraint, the cabinet ministers authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to determine the nature and timing of the response against Hezbollah. The statement released after the meeting did not elaborate on the specifics of Israel’s planned retaliation.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu conducted a security evaluation with senior officials at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, during which he examined various options for responding to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization held accountable by Israel for the rocket assault.
Hezbollah has been involved in continuous clashes with Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanon border since October 7 of the previous year, but they have denied any connection to the recent strike. A rocket struck a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a Druze community in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while a soccer practice was taking place.
Israeli officials of high rank have cautioned that the response from their country could result in “several days” of intense conflict with Hezbollah, as reported by Israel’s state-run Kan TV news. After evaluating the situation at the Northern Command with Commander Uri Gordin, Galant declared that the military had been directed to prepare for any potential developments and to maintain “full readiness.”