Israeli PM Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah over Golan Heights missile strike

The missile attack in Majdal Shams killed 12 and injured 25, prompting Netanyahu to cut short his US visit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to make Hezbollah pay a "heavy price" Saturday after a missile attack killed 12 people and injured 25 in the town of Druze in Majdal Shams in the northern occupied Golan Heights. 

Netanyahu's office said he spoke via telephone with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel and told him that Tel Aviv “will not overlook” the attack.

“Hezbollah will pay a heavy price which it has not paid up to now,” said Netanyahu, without providing details.

The Israeli army accused Hezbollah for the attack but the Lebanese group denied responsibility.

Netanyahu decided earlier to expedite his return from Washington to Tel Aviv after the attack. He was scheduled to return Sunday.

Netanyahu has been since Monday on a visit to Washington, where he met President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. He also delivered a speech to the US Congress.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 39,300 victims since October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.