Ten people, including children, were killed in a rocket attack on a football ground in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, according to Israel’s N12 News. This incident marks the worst in months of escalating violence between Israel and armed groups in Lebanon.
Contents
Hezbollah Accused of Rocket Attack
The Israeli military attributed the rocket fire to the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Despite this accusation, the Iran-backed group denied any involvement in the attack, which seemed poised to provoke a strong response from Israel.
Earlier, Israeli emergency services reported that nine people were critically injured by a rocket from Lebanon that struck a football pitch in the Druze village of Majdal Shams. A medic described the scene as one of great destruction and fire.
“We witnessed great destruction when we arrived at the soccer field, as well as items that were on fire. There were casualties on the grass, and the scene was gruesome,” said Magen David Adom medic Idan Avshalom.
A witness told Reuters, “It landed in the soccer pitch, all of them are children … many bodies and remains are in the field we don’t know who they are.” She requested anonymity.
Israeli Strike in Lebanon and Retaliation
The attack on the soccer pitch followed an Israeli strike in Lebanon that killed four operatives on the same day. Two security sources in Lebanon identified the deceased fighters as members of different armed groups, with at least one belonging to Hezbollah.
The Israeli military claimed its aircraft targeted a military structure used by Hezbollah after detecting a militant cell entering the building. Following this, the military reported that at least 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon across the border.
“According to an IDF situational assessment and the intelligence in our possession, the rocket launch toward Majdal Shams was carried out by the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the military stated.
Hezbollah’s Response
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for at least four attacks, including with Katyusha rockets, in retaliation for the Kfarkila attacks. However, senior Hezbollah media representative Mohammad Afif denied the group’s involvement in the strike on Majdal Shams.
In a written statement, Hezbollah declared, “the Islamic Resistance has absolutely nothing to do with the incident, and categorically denies all false allegations in this regard.”
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since October, following a Hamas attack on southern Israel that ignited the Gaza war, leading to their worst escalation since 2006.
Escalating Tensions and Uncertain Future in the Region
The recent rocket attack in the Golan Heights represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. While the Israeli military blames Hezbollah for the attack, the group denies involvement, complicating the already tense situation. As both sides continue to exchange fire, the prospect of further violence looms large over the region.
