US blames Hezbollah for rocket attack on Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers

WASHINGTON – The White House said Monday that the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was responsible for the weekend rocket attack that killed 12 children and teenagers in the Golan Heights.

“It was their missile. It was launched from an area they control,” said John Kirby, White House national security spokesman.

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack. A rocket hit a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan on Saturday. The attack has heightened tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border and raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

Israel also blamed Hezbollah for the attack and threatened retaliation, but the US urged restraint.