Israel’s security cabinet has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister the authority to decide on how and when Israel will respond to a rocket attack from Lebanon that killed 12 people, mostly teenagers and children, in the village of Majdal Shams. The attack has escalated tensions in the region, with global diplomats urging restraint to prevent further conflict.
Netanyahu vowed a fierce retaliation after the attack but Israel’s military response has so far targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon without the intensity promised. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, denies involvement in the attack, which occurred after months of skirmishes between Israel and the militant group.
Tensions between Israel and neighboring countries have escalated, with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggesting that Turkey could intervene in Israel. Lebanon’s main airline rescheduled flights to and from Beirut due to “technical reasons related to the distribution of insurance risks.”
In Gaza, the war has resulted in thousands of casualties with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 39,000 killed and 90,000 injured. The majority of these casualties are women and children, according to Hamas. Israel, on the other hand, estimates over 1,200 deaths in response to Hamas’s attack on October 7.
The situation remains volatile as Israel considers its response to the rocket attack from Lebanon and the conflict in Gaza continues to claim lives. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to prevent further escalation and restore peace in the region.
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