Netanyahu vows retaliation against Hezbollah after weekend strike as US warns against escalation

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Israeli strikes hit villages in southern Lebanon on Monday. In the town of Chebaa, an artillery strike hit a home without causing injuries or deaths while earlier in the day another strike in the town of Shaqra killed two and injured three others, officials said. The attacks come as Israel mulls its response to a deadly rocket attack over the weekend that killed 12 children and teenagers in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied it was responsible for the strike. (AP video shot by Ramez Dallah)

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Mourners in Majdal Shams attended the funerals on Sunday and Monday of children and teens killed after a rocket attack from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, Israeli authorities said.

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Members of the Druze minority attend a memorial ceremony, Monday, July 29, 2024, for the children and teens, killed in a rocket strike at a soccer field over the weekend in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A youth from the Druze minority weeps over a makeshift memorial for 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A woman from the Druze minority is overcome by emotion as she holds a motorized scooter at the site where 12 children and teens were killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Youths from the Druze minority weep at a makeshift memorial for 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Members of the Druze minority protest a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the site where 12 children and teens were killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A woman from the Druze minority weeps near the site where 12 children and teens were killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A woman from the Druze minority is overcome by emotion at the site where 12 children and teens were killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Mourners from the Druze minority attend the funeral for Guevara Ibrahim, 11, one of 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Mourners from the Druze minority weep during the funeral for Guevara Ibrahim, 11, one of 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Druze clergymen pray during the funeral for Guevara Ibrahim, 11, one of 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Mourners from the Druze minority march with the coffin for Guevara Ibrahim, 11, one of 12 children and teens killed in a rocket strike on a soccer field, during his funeral in the village of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A protester waves the Israeli national flag in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, outside of the Sde Teiman military base, Monday, July 29, 2024. The Israeli military said Monday it was holding nine soldiers for questioning following allegations of “substantial abuse” of a detainee at a shadowy facility where Israel has held Palestinian prisoners throughout the war in Gaza. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

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An Israeli firefighter investigates the scene of a deadly explosion in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

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A man watches from his window as Israeli police investigate the scene of a deadly explosion in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

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Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base, where inside, soldiers are being questioned for detainee abuse, Monday, July 29, 2024. The Israeli military said Monday it was holding nine soldiers for questioning following allegations of “substantial abuse” of a detainee at a shadowy facility where Israel has held Palestinian prisoners throughout the war in Gaza. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

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FILE - Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base, as people protest in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov, File)

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Israeli soldiers going a protest at the gate to Sde Teiman military base, in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, Monday, July 29, 2024. The Israeli military said Monday it was holding nine soldiers for questioning following allegations of “substantial abuse” of a detainee at a shadowy facility where Israel has held Palestinian prisoners throughout the war in Gaza. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

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Tourists take pictures with the sunset at a waterfront promenade, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 29, 2024. Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid Israeli threats to retaliate following Saturday’s rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 young people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

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Iraqi tourists watch the sunset at a waterfront promenade, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 29, 2024. Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid Israeli threats to retaliate following Saturday’s rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 young people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

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Arab tourists most of them Iraqis watch the sunset at a waterfront promenade in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 29, 2024. Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid Israeli threats to retaliate following Saturday’s rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 young people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

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Iraqi tourists watch the sunset at a waterfront promenade in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 29, 2024. Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid Israeli threats to retaliate following Saturday’s rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 young people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

By LEO CORREA and ALON BERNSTEIN

MAJDAL SHAMS, Golan Heights (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed heavy retaliation against Hezbollah amid furious diplomatic efforts to prevent a spiral into regional war following a weekend rocket strike that killed 12 children in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Israel has blamed Hezbollah for Saturday evening’s rocket from Lebanon that slammed into a soccer field where the children were playing in the mainly Druze town of Majdal Shams. In an unusual move, Hezbollah denied any role in the strike.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, emphasizing the “importance of preventing escalation” and discussing efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to months of conflict.

Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily over the border since the war in Gaza erupted in October. Each side has seemed intent on avoiding an escalation that would bring their full firepower against each other. But the exchanges have mounted, and the latest strike threatened reprisals and counter-reprisals that could spiral into full-fledged war.

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Early Monday, Israeli strikes hit a motorcycle in Lebanon near the border, killing two people and wounding three others, Lebanese state media said. The strikes, mirroring the pace of the daily cross-border fire, did not appear to be Israel’s retaliation for Saturday’s attack.

Thousands of mourners laid to rest on Monday the 12th victim of the strike. The body of 11-year-old Guevara Ibrahim was carried through the streets of Majdal Shams in a procession of black-clad mourners.

Netanyahu spoke as he visited the soccer field in Majdal Shams and met with leaders of the Druze community.

“These children are our children, they are the children of all of us,” he said as officials laid a wreath on the field. “The state of Israel will not and cannot overlook this. Our response will come, and it will be severe,” he said, adding that the rocket was fired by Hezbollah.

Nearby, around 300 friends, supporters and relatives of the slain children protested against Netanyahu’s visit, shouting that he was exploiting the bloodshed for political gain and calling for an end to the violence. Some held up pictures of the children, saying they wanted no more deaths.

After Netanyahu left, some rushed onto the soccer field and tore down the wreath. Weeping relatives held up toys left by the children on the field.

The Druze of the Golan Heights have long had a fraught relationship with Israel since it captured the territory from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed it. Some Druze have Israeli citizenship, and ties with Israeli society have grown over the years. But many still have sympathies for Syria and have rejected Israeli annexation.

Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also visited the town, saying Hezbollah will “pay a price” for the attack. He did not elaborate, saying only, “We will let actions speak for themselves.”

Israel’s military says Hezbollah fired an Iranian-made Falaq rocket with a 53-kilogram (117-pound) warhead.

Hezbollah has started moving precision-guided missiles for use if needed, an official with a Lebanese group told The Associated Press, without elaborating on where they are being moved.

The official said Hezbollah’s stance has not changed and it does not want a full-blown war with Israel, but if war breaks out it will fight without limits. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military activities.

Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire since Oct. 8, a day after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel. Hezbollah has said it is showing its support for the Palestinian group.

More than 500 people, including 90 civilians, have been killed in Lebanon, as have 22 soldiers and 25 civilians on the Israeli side. Tens of thousands have evacuated their homes on both sides of the border.

The U.S. and France for months have pushed for a negotiated agreement between Hezbollah and Israel to quieten the border and allow the return of residents.

The White House National Security Council said it was speaking with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts and working on a diplomatic solution to “end all attacks once and for all” in the border area.

Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden who frequently handles delicate negotiations in Lebanon, has been making a flurry of calls trying to contain the situation, a Lebanese diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorize to talk to the press on the issue.

An outright war between Israel and Hezbollah could bring intense destruction. Hezbollah has far superior firepower than Hamas, with an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles, according to Israeli estimates.

The last time they went to war, in 2006, Israel inflicted massive damage in Lebanon with a bombing campaign in retaliation for a cross-border Hezbollah attack. The death and destruction were so great, Hezbollah has been under intense pressure from the Lebanese ever since not to trigger a repeated war with Israel.

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “We both agreed that widening of conflict in the region is in nobody’s interest,” Lammy said in a post on the social media site X.

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Associated Press journalists Bassem Mroue and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.