The Hezbollah missile that killed 12 and wounded more than 30 in the northern Golan Heights on Saturday was not intercepted due to the local terrain and the missile’s low-altitude trajectory, according to the Israeli military’s initial investigation into the incident.
The probe also found that contrary to claims in the Israeli media, air-raid sirens sounded for 20 seconds prior to the impact and the alert system did not malfunction.
The missile, an Iranian-made Falaq-type with a 53 kilogram (117 pound) warhead, was launched from an area north of the village of Shebaa in Southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
While Israeli leaders have vowed a harsh response to the attack, the Lebanese government has asked the United States to urge restraint from Israel.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told Reuters that Beirut conveyed the message to Washington, with the United States also asking the Lebanese government to pass a message to Hezbollah to show restraint as well, amid fears that the incident could spark a wider war.
