Israel’s Netanyahu returns from Washington, chairs security meeting after Golan attack

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from Washington on Sunday and chaired a security meeting following a rocket attack that killed 12 people in Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

Israel has linked the attack on a football field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams to Lebanon's Hezbollah group, which denied any responsibility.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plane has landed in Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “The Prime Minister is now en route to the Kirya for a security assessment and Security Cabinet discussion.”

Netanyahu threatened on Saturday to make Hezbollah pay a "heavy price" after the attack.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which has killed more than 39,300 victims since October, following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi