Children and Teens Among 12 Dead in Golan Heights Attack that Israel Blames on Hezbollah, Raising Fears of Major Escalation
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/
On Saturday, a rocket attack on a village in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights killed at least 12 people, including children. Israeli officials blamed the attack on Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, and reported that about 30 projectiles crossed from Lebanon into Israel. Hezbollah, while acknowledging attacks on other areas of the Golan Heights, denied responsibility for this deadly strike. The incident has heightened fears of a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Following the rocket attack, Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and deep within Lebanese territory. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted weapons caches and other Hezbollah infrastructure.
The recent rocket attack on the Golan Heights has heightened tensions at the border, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising severe repercussions for Hezbollah. The two sides have been exchanging fire for nearly 10 months, with the conflict intensifying. The attack on Majdal Shams, a Druze-majority village, resulted in 12 deaths and at least 29 injuries. Regional leaders had already been warning that the situation was nearing a critical point.
About 20,000 Druze Arabs live in the Golan Heights, an area seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981, which is considered occupied territory under international law. This region also houses approximately 50,000 Israeli Jewish settlers. Many Druze identify as Syrian and have declined Israeli citizenship offers.
In the ongoing conflict, an Israeli airstrike hit the Lebanese village of Jebbain near the border, targeting sites including a soccer field where children were playing. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari described the recent attack as the deadliest against Israeli civilians since October 7, and warned of serious repercussions.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari identified the rocket that hit the soccer field as a “Falaq 1 Iranian rocket with a 50kg warhead,” exclusive to Hezbollah. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 children. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his U.S. visit and announced he would return to Israel to address the situation and convene a security meeting. He expressed shock and vowed that Israel would not ignore the attack. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Majdal Shams, expressed condolences, and warned that Hezbollah would face consequences for the attack.
Adeeb Safadi, a resident of Majdal Shams, reported that the rocket attack killed Druze children aged 8 to 15 who were at a soccer training session. Ten of the victims have been identified, but some are still unrecognizable. Taymor Wili, an eyewitness, described seeing the attack shortly after the air raid alarm sounded. He noted that the children had little time to react and that despite efforts to help, the situation was beyond assistance. Wili called it a dark day for the town, one that will be remembered for generations.
Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that the rocket attack resulted in fatalities ranging from 10 to 20 years old and left 29 people injured, with six in serious condition. Senior medic Idan Avshalom described arriving at the scene to find widespread destruction and fire, with injured individuals on the ground. The team began triaging and transporting some victims to local clinics. Ziv Medical Center in Safed received 26 injured individuals, five of whom were admitted to the trauma center. Police are securing the area and searching for additional debris to ensure public safety.
The rocket attack on Saturday marks a significant escalation in the already tense border area between Lebanon and Israel. Although Lebanon and Israel have been in a state of war for decades, recent hostilities have intensified without escalating into a full-scale conflict. Recent weeks have seen increased frequency in strikes from both Hezbollah and Israel, with both sides targeting deeper into each other’s territories.
Tensions rose further after Israel killed two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders in May and June, which led to Hezbollah firing hundreds of missiles into Israel. The conflict has been exacerbated by the recent Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack and promised to defend Israel’s sovereignty, while opposition leader Benny Gantz called for an increased IDF presence in the area. The Lebanese government condemned the violence and called for an end to hostilities, denouncing attacks on civilians as violations of international law.
The IDF has accused Hezbollah of carrying out the rocket attack on Majdal Shams, but Hezbollah denied involvement, stating on Telegram that it had no connection to the incident. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting a different Israeli military site in the Golan Heights. The IDF, however, maintains that the rocket was launched from southern Lebanon, and IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari criticized Hezbollah’s denial, asserting that their intelligence confirms Hezbollah’s responsibility.
The White House condemned the attack and reiterated strong support for Israel, emphasizing the need to address threats along the Israel-Lebanon border. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an independent international investigation and urged all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation.
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