United States Blames Hezbollah For Attacks On Golan Heights, Doesn't Want Escalation

White House. (Wikimedia Commons/Matt H. Wade)

JAKARTA - The United States on Sunday blamed Lebanese-based Hezbollah for a rocket attack on Israel's occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children and adolescents on the football field, increasing the wider threat of war in the Middle East.

The attack raised fears of a wider conflict in the region where tensions have escalated due to Israel's war in Gaza. Hezbollah denied the attack.

"This attack was carried out by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from the territory they control," the White House said in a statement.

He added Washington had discussions with Israeli and Lebanese officials since Saturday's attack, which was condemned and described as "terrible."

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he did not want to see the escalation of the conflict on Israel's northern border and reaffirmed US support for Israel.

"I emphasize the right (Israel) to defend its citizens and our determination to ensure that they are capable of doing so," Foreign Minister Blinken said at a press conference in Tokyo.

"But we also don't want to see the conflict increase. We don't want to see it (the conflict) spread," he continued.

The White House said Washington was working on a diplomatic solution to end attacks on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Foreign Minister Blinken said he was saddened by the loss of life, adding that reaching a ceasefire agreement in the war in Gaza could help calm the situation on the Israeli border with Lebanon.

"It is very important for us to help defuse the conflict, not only prevent it from increasing, preventing it from spreading, but also easing it because there are so many people in both countries, both Israel and Lebanon, who have fled their homes," Foreign Minister Blinken said.

Separately, Vice President Kamala Harris' national security adviser Phil Gordon said the presidential candidate had been briefed and closely monitored the situation.

"Israel continues to face serious threats to its security, and the Vice President's support for Israel's security is very strong," Gordon said in a statement.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have tried to mediate in the dispute. However, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, have yet to agree on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.