IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed Saturday at least 10 Israelis have died and 20 more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20 years old.
“We share the grief of the families of the victims and embrace the entire Druze community at this difficult time. We send strength to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery,” Hagari said.
“From the initial inquiry into the incident, an alert was activated, but it was an immediate alert that was too short,” he continued. “From the IAF’s inquiry, at the moment it appears that this was a single rocket. We are now looking into this in-depth and will release the details transparently to the public.”
Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack squarely on Hezbollah, though they have denied having a role in the tragedy. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, is based in Lebanon. Shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack in Israel, Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel. The two sides have continued to engage in cross-border fires with the potential for all-out war viewed as ongoing and escalating possibility.
“In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident. Our intelligence is clear – Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed. This is a very serious incident and we will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” Hagari said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the U.S. this week to make his case and shore up support in the midst of a war against Hamas, said Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far,” according to his office.
The White House National Security Council spoke against the attack as well, saying in a statement to the Washington Examiner: “We condemn this horrific attack that reportedly killed a number of teenagers and children playing soccer on a Saturday evening in the village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones today, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured.”
“Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, as the world saw today, and the United States will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority. Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah,” the statement continued.
This attack, the deadliest in this northern territory since the fighting started, stokes fears of escalation.
“What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months,” one U.S. official said to Axios.
Hezbollah is believed to have a larger and more sophisticated arsenal than Hamas. An all-out war would likely include heavy casualties and damage to both sides.
“Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want. Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon, and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians,” Austin said. “Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation.”
Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006 and the conflict lasted about a month. Hezbollah is currently violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended that war, which bars them from maintaining a presence south of the Litani River, which is located roughly 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
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The Golan Heights territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967 war with Syria. It is home to around 20,000 Druze Arabs.
This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Mike Brest contributed to this reporting.
