WASHINGTON (National Times) White House Affirms Israel’s right to respond to Hezbollah rocket attack US Supports Israel’s Right to Retaliate After Hezbollah Rocket Strike, Says White House.

Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah after a rocket strike in the Golan Heights on Saturday although the US does not believe it needs to result in escalation, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams that killed 12 teenagers and children on Saturday.

Earlier, A rocket attack on a football ground in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 people, including children, on Saturday. Israeli authorities blamed Hezbollah and vowed to retaliate against the Iran-backed Lebanese group.

Hezbollah denied responsibility for the strike, which was the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory since the Gaza conflict began. The attack escalated tensions, raising fears of a full-blown conflict between the heavily armed adversaries.

The rocket struck a football pitch in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, territory captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognised by most countries.

Israel reacted with the severe actions on attack at the Golan Hieghts.

later US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that there was “every indication” that Lebanese group Hezbollah was behind a rocket strike in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 young people.