Lebanon hit by drones as Netanyahu pledges harsh response to missile strike

Israeli drones struck a remote road in southern Lebanon, underscoring tensions as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, promised a "harsh" response to the rocket strike on the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children.

- Ruth Michaelson and Quique Kierszenbaum , Andrew Roth

"The state of Israel will not and cannot let this pass. Our response will come, and it will be harsh," he said during a visit to the remote town of Majdal Shams, a majority Druze village in a region annexed by Israel from Syria in 1981.

Video footage showed a crowd of Druze residents gathering in objection to Netanyahu's visit.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen in recent days after Saturday's rocket strike on the town, which killed 12 children as they played football.

Netanyahu and the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, visited Majdal Shams as a funeral was held yesterday for the 12th child killed in the attack. "Hezbollah will pay a price ... the actions will speak for themselves," Gallant told grieving families.

US officials were said to be involved in frenzied diplomatic efforts to head off a larger Israeli response.

But John Kirby, a White House security spokesperson, described warnings of an "all-out war scenario" as "exaggerated".

"Nobody wants a broader war, and I'm confident that we'll be able to avoid such an outcome," he said.