On July 28, thousands attended funeral ceremonies for the 12 children and teenagers killed in a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as Israel vowed swift retaliation against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since the start of the Gaza conflict, which now threatens to escalate into a wider regional conflict.

Israeli jets targeted southern Lebanon overnight, with a stronger response anticipated after a security Cabinet meeting scheduled for 6pm.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after returning from the U.S., met with security officials ahead of the meeting, the Straits Times has reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that there were indications the rocket was fired by Hezbollah and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself, while also urging against further escalation.

Families gathered for funerals in Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Golan Heights, territory captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognized by most countries.

Written by B.C. Begley