Sharjah 24 – AFP: Airlines suspended flights to Lebanon on Monday as diplomatic efforts were underway to contain soaring tensions between “Hezbollah” and Israel after deadly rocket fire in the annexed Golan Heights.
Israel and the United States have blamed the attack on Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the start of the Gaza war in early October.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said a flurry of diplomatic activity has sought to contain the anticipated Israeli response, after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant threatened to "hit the enemy hard".
"Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way... These are the assurances we've received," Bou Habib said in an interview late Sunday with local broadcaster Al-Jadeed.
The United States, France and others were trying to contain the escalation, he added, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati had also said that "talks are ongoing with international, European and Arab sides to protect Lebanon and ward off dangers".
Several airlines including Lufthansa, Air France and Transavia announced Monday the suspension of their Beirut lines.
Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams rocket attack, though the group claimed multiple strikes on Israeli military positions that day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the site of the rocket strike Monday, has said "Hezbollah will pay a heavy price".
He convened Sunday his security cabinet, whose members "authorised the prime minister and the defence minister to decide on the manner and timing of the response", Netanyahu's office said without elaborating.
“Hezbollah” has evacuated some positions in south and east Lebanon, a source close to the group told AFP.
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