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Lebanese officials are engaged in extensive last-minute diplomatic efforts with western capitals to exert pressure on Israel and prevent it from retaliating for the deadly strike in the occupied Golan Heights, political sources said on Monday.
Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams on Saturday that killed 12 teenagers and children. However, Israel insisted that the Iran-backed Lebanese group was behind the strike and vowed a strong response.
On a visit to the Israeli-occupied village on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that the "response will come, and it will be harsh".
But Mr Netanyahu's visit was not well-received by residents of Majdal Shams, the vast majority of whom refused to take Israeli citizenship following the annexation of the Golan Heights in 1981. Footage emerged showing dozens of people in the Druze town protesting his visit, chanting "leave, you are not welcome".
Israeli jets and drones struck targets in southern Lebanon on Monday, killing two Hezbollah fighters and injuring three people. But there were expectations of a more severe retaliation after the war cabinet on Sunday evening authorised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on the manner and timing of the response.
“We are bracing for a response that could be similar to the bombing of the port of Hodeidah [in Yemen] and sites in Iran, without sliding into a wide-scale war, unless something unforeseen happens and things get out of control,” a political source in Beirut said.
“Extensive contacts have been taking place since the attack with several capitals, including Washington, in order to put pressure on Israel to prevent it from expanding the war.”
Another political source in Beirut said that US envoy Amos Hochstein, who has been a key mediator between Lebanon and Israel, told Lebanese officials that “Israel will launch a large-scale operation”.
Saturday's rocket attack struck a football pitch in the mostly Druze village of Majdal Shams. Israel invaded the Syrian territory in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, in a move that was rejected by major world powers.
Hezbollah has attacked Israeli targets in northern Israel and in the Golan Heights as part of a wider, Iranian-led retaliation against Israel for its current war in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 39,300 Palestinians since October 7, including thousands of children.
The war started after Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah and Iran, attacked southern Israeli towns, killing and abducting hundreds.
Evacuation rumours
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has since October pushed tens of thousands of Israelis away from the border, forcing them to evacuate towns and live in hotels and government centres elsewhere.
Many of those vowed not to return before Hezbollah was pushed away from the border.
Israel has struck dozens of Hezbollah houses and arms depots in Lebanon and Syria. It has also successfully located and assassinated field commanders through its extensive surveillance arms and on-ground agents.
Local media said Hezbollah had, since Saturday, evacuated sites in the southern part of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in the east, as well as sites in the Sayyida Zeinab area near Damascus.
But security sources, a local rescue worker, and the mayors of three separate towns in southern Lebanon said no evacuations had taken place in populated areas.
“There are many people who are worried about Israel’s threats. Some people left the village yesterday and went to Beirut,” said Imad Lallous, mayor of the southern town of Ain Ebel.
“However, nothing was ordered by anyone and the decision to stay or go is up to each individual.”
Rumours spread that the deaths in Majdal Shams were caused by an Israeli military air defence interceptor.
Syria also accused Israel but the White House National Security Council stressed that the strike was carried out by Hezbollah.
“This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket and launched from an area they control,” NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on Sunday night.
Despite Hezbollah’s denial, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said that the strike could have been the result of an “error” by the heavily armed group.
The attack was “carried out by other organisations, an Israeli error, or a Hezbollah error”, he said, calling for an international investigation into the incident.
The last major war between the two occurred 18 years ago. It began in July 2006 and lasted more than a month, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 Lebanese and 165 Israelis, while also destroying much of Lebanon's infrastructure.
Ahead of Israel's expected retaliation, many international carriers have delayed or cancelled flights to Lebanon. Germany called on its citizens to leave the country and the US Embassy in Beirut reminded citizens to “reconsider travel to Lebanon”, warning those already in the country to take precautions.
Meanwhile, as politicians and diplomats race to contain the escalation, Lebanon's residents have braced for the worst.
“There's fear, but people have nowhere else to go,” said Joseph Salameh, Mayor of the southern Qlayaa village.
“We’re just hoping for the best.”
