Israel-Gaza updates: IDF says officer and soldier injured in attack from Lebanon

The United States "absolutely condemn this weekend's horrific attack" that killed children playing soccer in Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday.

At least 12 people were killed, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the rocket attack but Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that "every indication" points to Hezbollah as responsible for the strike.

Kirby also assigned blame to Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying "it was their rocket launched from an area that they control."

"The United States will continue to support efforts to reach a diplomatic solution along that blue line that will, No. 1, end these terrible attacks once and for all, and No. 2, allow Israeli and Lebanese citizens on both sides of the border to safely return to their homes," Kirby said.

Kirby stressed that U.S. support for Israeli security remains "ironclad" against all Iran-backed threats, adding, "We believe that there is still time and space for a diplomatic solution."

Asked if the administration was urging Israel to show restraint in any response, Kirby said that Hezbollah made the first strike on Israel back in October and that "Israel has every right to respond," but he said he was confident that a broader conflict could be avoided.

"Nobody wants a broader war and I'm confident that we'll be able to avoid such an outcome. I'll let the Israelis really speak to whatever their response is going to be," Kirby said.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were granted the authority Sunday to decide the manner and timing of a response to the alleged attack by Hezbollah on the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, according to the prime minister's office.

During a meeting in Tel Aviv, members of Israel's political-security cabinet gave Netanyahu and Gallant the authority to devise a plan to retaliate for the strike that killed 12 people, including children playing soccer, according to the statement from the prime minister's office.

"The members of the cabinet authorized the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense to decide on the manner of response against the terrorist organization Hezbollah, and when," according to the statement.

Hezbollah has denied involvement in the rocket attack. The Israel Defense Forces and the White House both blamed Hezbollah for the attack.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

The White House on Sunday blamed Hezbollah for the rocket strike Saturday on Golan Heights that it said killed children playing soccer.

At least 12 people were killed in the weekend attack in Majdal Shams, a town in the Golan Heights, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

"We have been in continuous discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since the horrific attack yesterday in northern Israel that killed a number of children playing soccer," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. "This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah. It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control. It should be universally condemned."

Hezbollah has denied involvement in the rocket attack in Majdal Shams. But the IDF said a Hezbollah rocket was used in the attack, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Sunday that "every indication" points to Hezbollah as responsible for the strike.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Lebanon's flagship air carrier, Middle East Airlines, delayed departures of several inbound flights to Beirut on Sunday, the airline announced.

The decision by Middle East Airlines came after the Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday that the military struck targets "deep inside" Lebonnon overnight. The IDF attack in Lebanon unfolded a day after a rocket strike killed 12 people in Majdal Shams, a town in Golan Heights.

Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket attack in Majdal Shams, but IDF officials claim it was a Hezbollah rocket that hit a sports field, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that "every indication" points to Hezbollah as being responsible for the strike.

Middle East Airlines said it delayed the departures of six inbound flights to Beruit that would normally land at night. The flights are now scheduled to land during the day on Monday, the airline said.

Meanwhile, Royal Jordanian Airlines also told ABC News it is considering rescheduling a flight from Amman to Beirut to early Monday morning.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz