Twelve children were killed and several more wounded in a village in the Golan Heights by a rocket fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets, missiles and drones into the north of Israel since Hamas’ terrorist attack October 7. Tens of thousands of Israeli and Lebanese civilians have been forced to flee their homes on both sides of the border.
On July 30, the Israeli military announced it had conducted a targeted retaliatory strike in Beirut that killed the Hezbollah commander responsible for the July 27 attack in the Golan Heights.
U.S. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby called the attack by Hezbollah on children playing soccer “horrific.” The United States “absolutely” condemns it, he said.
“The attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah, despite their denials. It was their rocket, and it was launched from an area that they control,” Advisor Kirby told reporters. “Our support for Israel’s security remains ironclad and is unwavering against all Iran-back threats, including those from Hezbollah. No nation can be expected to tolerate the kind of severe threats that Israel is facing. At the same time,” he declared, “we believe that there is still time and space for a diplomatic solution.”
At a press briefing, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel too underscored that Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism. But Mr. Patel also stressed the need for diplomacy:
“[T]he United States is going to continue to support efforts to reach a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line that – our hope is – will end these terrible attacks and, again, allow Israeli and Lebanese citizens on both sides of the border to safely return home. That’s going to continue to remain our focus and goal.”
Spokesperson Patel and Advisor Kirby emphasized that the United States does not believe escalation or wider war is inevitable. “Our focus continues to be on diplomacy,” said Mr. Patel.
Speaking in Tokyo after the attack by Hezbollah on children in the Golan Heights, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “[O]ne of the reasons that we’re continuing to work so hard for a ceasefire in Gaza is not just for Gaza. ... We want to see Israelis, we want to see Palestinians, we want to see Lebanese live free from the threat of conflict and violence.”
