Hezbollah will pay

A deadly rocket attack attributed to Hezbollah struck the football pitch in Majdal Shams, Israel, killing at least 12 young people, aged 10 to 20, and injuring nearly 20 others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, vowing that Hezbollah would 'pay a heavy price' and promising a robust military response, marking this as the most lethal incident against Israeli civilians since the Hamas assault on October 7. While the Israeli military holds Hezbollah responsible, the group has categorically denied involvement in the attack. The incident has heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, prompting emergency security consultations among Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. International reactions included condemnation from the U.S. and the EU, with calls for restraint to prevent further escalation. Netanyahu is set to return from a U.S. trip to convene the Israeli security cabinet to discuss next steps.