Israeli security officials convene over attack on soldiers

Israeli officials late Wednesday discussed courses of action following an attack earlier in the day against an Israeli military vehicle, which killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded seven.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi'ite militant organization, launched five anti-tank missiles at an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vehicle in the area of Mount Dov, along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The attack came one day after four rockets were launched towards the Golan Heights (lands Israel annexed from Syria in 1967 in the Mideast War) from Syria, causing no damages or injuries.

The two attacks are in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike last Sunday in Syria, which killed a Hezbollah commander and an Iranian general. Israel refused to comment on the attack, but was linked to such attacks in the past.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security officials including Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and head of the Shin Bet Security Agency Yoram Cohen, among others, in his Tel Aviv chambers at the Kyria military headquarters base.

"Whoever is behind the attack will pay the full price," Netanyahu said prior to the meeting, according to a statement from his office.

"For some time, Iran, via Hezbollah, has been trying to establish an additional terrorist front against us from the Golan Heights," Netanyahu added. "We are taking strong and responsible action against this attempt."

Netanyahu also accused the government of Lebanon and Syria for being responsible for the "consequences of the attacks emanating from their territories against Israel." On Tuesday, following the rockets attack from Syria, Netanyahu said that "those who play with fire will be hit by fire."

Israel's ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor urged the Security Council to condemn Hezbollah for the attack. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in a statement that he would cut short his current visit in the United States.

The killed soldiers in Wednesday's attack also fought in Israel's military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip last summer, known as Operation Protective Edge. Seven other soldiers were wounded in the incident, among them four in moderate condition.

The families of the killed soldiers on Wednesday told Channel 10 news there is criticism as it became apparent that the soldiers were patrolling in the already-tense area in a vehicle that was not armor protected.

In response to the accusations, a military source told Ynet news website that he is not sure whether an armored-vehicle would have prevented the tragic outcome.

"I don't think that the fact the vehicle wasn't armored protected had any significance, as we believe the missiles that were fired at them were (Russian-manufactured) Kornet", explaining even armored vehicles couldn't stand the impact.

The IDF retaliated with artillery fire into Lebanon Wednesday, shelling targets in the south of the country. A Spanish soldier at the UNIFIL unit (which is stationed along the border since the end of the 2006 war) was killed as result of the shelling. The IDF also fired artillery at Syria on Tuesday, in response to the rocket launch.

The Mount Dov area, where Wednesday's attack took place, has seen many cross-border incidents in the past. In October, Hezbollah conducted a bomb attack against Israeli soldiers along the border, wounding two.

In 2006, the group killed and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. The incident sparked the 2006 Lebanon-Israel War with 43 Israeli citizens and 119 soldiers dead, more than 1,700 Lebanese killed and, according to the IDF. Enditem